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HIS NEW COMRADE WAS RACING ACROSS THE FIELDS 



THE 

Safety First Club 
and the Flood 


W 






ICHOLS 


Author of “The Safety First Club'’ 


Illustrated by 
F. A. Anderson 


THE PENN PUBLISHING 
COMPANY PHILADELPHIA 
1917 



COPYRIGHT 
1917 BY 
THE) PKNN 
PUBUSHING 
COMPANY 




The Safety First Club and the Flood. 


APR 13 1917 

©CI.A457927 

^ - f . 


Introduction 


The one school which never needs a truant 
officer is the School of Experience. Whether 
we like it or not, we have to go to this school, 
all of us ; but whether we shall profit by its 
lessons or waste the instruction is wholly a 
matter of our own choice. In this story Sam 
Parker and his friends, some of whose expe- 
riences have been earlier set forth in the first 
volume of this series, The Safety First Club,^' 
take a new course, so to speak, with resultant 
profit to themselves. The Safety First Club 
and the Flood finds this group of boys, and 
especially its leader, Sam, worried, beset and 
tried by problems new to them, perplexing, 
baffling ; not very grave problems, at first 
glance, but serious enough in the eyes of the 
boys and not unimportant in their conse- 
quences — a phase of life, in short, which has 
very direct concern to young or old. 

Sam learns his lesson ; his mates learn 
theirs. Incidentally, they undergo trials of 
3 


4 INTRODUCTION 

the flesh and of the spirit, and are the better 
for both. They meet adventure which, it is 
hoped, will be found to the taste of the friends 
the chums have made and may make through 
this volume and those which are to follow it. 


Contents 


I. 

The Club Confers . 


9 

II. 

Varley Gets Acquainted . 


. 24 

III. 

Uncomfortable Glory 


• 39 

IV. 

Sam’s Counsellor 


. 60 

V. 

Snow-Shoes 


• 73 

VI. 

A Little Lunch 


• 92 

VII. 

The Shark Lectures 


. 105 

VIII. 

Poke’s Mystery 



IX. 

Sam Gets a Reminder 


• *33 

X. 

The Blow Descends . 


. 148 

XI. 

The Great Mince Pie of 
Valley .... 

Sugar 

. . 163 

XII. 

Exploring the Valley 


. 185 

XIII. 

The Shark Demonstrates 


. 202 

XIV. 

The Hunt 


. 220 

XV. 

The House of Refuge 

• 

• 237 

XVI. 

Blind Trails 

• 

. 256 


6 


CONTENTS 


6 


XVII. 

The Rising Flood 

• • 

172 

XVIII. 

Through the Long Night 

• • 

288 

XIX. 

What Befell Poke and Step 

. 

309 

XX. 

The Prize Snatched from the 

Flood 

326 

XXI. 

Poke Out of Bondage 

• • 

346 


Illustrations 


PAGE 

His New Comrade was Racing Across 

THE Fields ..... Frontispiece ^ 


/ 


“ Grin and Bear It ” 70 

“ You Can’t Raise the Money ” . . . 160 
Another of His Precious Matches . . . 248 
“ We’ll Have to Drift Ashore Somewhere ” 320 


The Safety First Club and the Flood 


7 





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The Safety First Club 
and the Flood 


CHAPTER I 

THE CLUB CONFERS 

It was not a cheerful afternoon. Overhead 
were heavy, gray clouds, and underfoot was 
snow, long fallen, crusted by alternate thaw- 
ing and freezing, dingy with the queer winter 
dust, which comes from nobody knows exactly 
where. In the beaten track of the roadways 
was an icy surface, made still more slippery 
by a thin coating, at once grimy and greasy, 
offering easy traction for the sledges, piled 
high with wood, which now and then came 
crunching along the streets. But it was full 
of peril to the motor cars, a few of which were 
abroad, skidding wildly at corners in spite 
of chained tires and careful driving. Out in 
9 


lo THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 


the fields the snow was perhaps a foot deep. 
Where paths had been shoveled the long 
mounds beside the walks rose almost to the 
waist of a man of average height. Altogether, 
it was a typical February scene in Plainville, 
a town well to the north, accustomed to hard 
winters and making the best of one of them, 
scarcely enjoying the experience but accepting 
it as inevitable. 

Sam Parker, muffled to the chin, mittened 
and rubber-shod, appeared to be imitating 
the example set by the town. He trudged 
along, whistling bravely if not blithely ; and 
quickened tune and pace a trifle when he 
came in sight of a little building in the lee of 
a big house. Turning in at the gate, he 
hurried up the path to the smaller building ; 
rapped thrice upon the door — there was hint 
in the performance of hasty observance of a 
customary rite ; and, without awaiting a re- 
sponse, opened the door and strode in. 

It was a curious room he entered, low-ceiled, 
rough of wall and floor, furnished with the 
most miscellaneous collection imaginable of 
discarded chairs, tables and lounges from half 
a dozen homes. There were rugs which 


THE CLUB CONFERS 


II 


showed signs of long and hard wear ; there 
were old pictures in frames still bearing the 
dust they had gathered in years of retirement 
in garrets and storerooms. Other pictures, 
unframed and evidently cut from newspapers 
and magazines, were tacked here and there on 
the walls. Nevertheless, in spite of the con- 
fusion and disorder the place had a certain 
attractiveness and an air of easy-going com- 
fort, with a suggestion that here one might 
do as one pleased. A visitor, skilled in such 
matters, might have more than suspected that 
once upon a time this had been a stable, but 
now anybody who could read must quickly 
grasp its present uses ; for boldly chalked on 
an old blackboard was inscribed in capital 
letters 

The Safety Fiest Club.” 

Sam pulled off his cap and overcoat, and 
tossed them into a corner. His overshoes 
followed them. Then, being relieved of his 
out-of-door toggery, he crossed to the stove, 
and stood beside it, rubbing his hands in 
the grateful warmth. A plump youth moved 
aside to give him a place by the fire ; and a 


12 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

boy, tall and thin and quaintly sharp-angled 
of knee and elbow, hailed him from the depths 
of a dilapidated steamer-chair. 

Huh, Sam I Know anything ? 

Nothing new, Step,^^ Sam answered. 

The boy in the low chair grunted dismally. 
“ Ugh I Confound it, there never is — this 
time of year, anyway I ” 

Sam did not attempt to debate the point. 
For a moment he regarded Step thoughtfully 
— “Step,^’ it may be explained, was a contrac- 
tion of Stepladder,’^ a nickname bestowed by 
his mates upon Clarence Jones because of a 
degree of resemblance in his physical make-up 
to that useful article of household equipment. 
Then Sam's glance went to the plump boy, 
Arthur Green in oiBBcial records, but Poke " 
to those honored with his intimate acquaint- 
ance. One could poke a finger almost any- 
where into the well-rounded Arthur ; hence 
the sobriquet. 

“ Poke " Green appeared to be meditating. 
His lips were pursed, and there was a line in 
his forehead. He loved his bit of philosophy, 
did Poke ; but it took time for him to put his 
meditations into words. 


THE CLUB CONFERS 


13 

Sam’s gaze traveled to a group about a table, 
on which were scattered magazines and a 
number of well-thumbed books. Two of the 
boys nodded. They were Herman Boyd 
and Harry Walker, more often called the 

Trojan ” ; and they were good fellows and 
tried and true members of the Safety First 
Club. So, for that matter, was a bespectacled 
youngster, who from his place at the Trojan’s 
elbow was regarding Sam with a peculiar air 
of solemnity. Sam, meeting his eye, gave 
him greeting. 

“ Hullo, Shark I What are you trying to 
figure out now ? ” 

“ Nothing,” said the other curtly. 

“ Then you’re wasting time, you old wizard ! ” 
quoth Sam. 

The Shark made no reply. Doubtless, it 
seemed to him that none was needed. So he 
merely continued to peer through his spec- 
tacles at the newcomer, with a characteristic 
intentness which was all his own. 

Willy Reynolds, indeed, was often referred 
to as an “ odd stick.” He had a mind of 
marked mathematical bent, and had proved 
himself so proficient in algebra, geometry and 


14 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

trigonometry as to puzzle and amaze his com- 
rades, toiling along paths of learning which 
appeared to offer him only entertainment. So 
they dubbed him the “ Shark, because he 
always seemed hungry for mathematics. 

The door opened, and in came a thick-set, 
sturdily built chap. 

Hi there, Orkney I Glad to see you 1 ” 
Sam sang out. It might have been noted, 
too, that the others gave the latest arrival a 
welcome, each in his own way, even the 
Shark thawing temporarily. One acquainted 
with boys and their ways would have un- 
derstood that there was some reason why 
they wished Orkney to feel himself among 
friends. 

The thick-set lad answered each in turn, his 
face lighting as he spoke. It was clear that 
he appreciated his reception, as well he might. 
Time bad been — and not very long before — 
when Tom Orkney and the Safety First Club 
had been at swords^ points, and when each had 
woefully misjudged the other. A chapter of 
accidents had served first to increase the bitter- 
ness on both sides, and then to remove it by 
revealing how thoroughly it was due to mis- 


THE CLUB CONFERS 15 

takes and misunderstandings. And in the 
end, helped on by sharing common adventures 
and dangers, had come reconciliation and 
respect. In proof of its new and genuine 
regard the club had admitted Tom to its 
jealously guarded circle of membership. 

They were, it may be said, a good lot of 
boys ; healthy youngsters in their teens — the 
Shark was the youngest and physically the 
weakest ; well intentioned but not wise beyond 
their years ; fond of fun and activity and no 
prophets of possible consequences of their 
escapades. But, as the title of their club 
indicated, they were learning their lesson in 
the school of experience. The wisdom of a 
policy of Safety First ” was impressed upon 
them, though as yet they were not too skilled 
in the application of the rule. 

While Tom Orkney was settling himself by 
the table. Step Jones again raised his voice in 
lamentation. 

I tell you, fellows, this is the meanest, 
logiest, slowest, stupidest time of all the year. 
There’s nothing to do. The snow spoils the 
skating, and more than half the time the 
snow-shoeing and skiing are no good. Sleigh- 


1 6 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


iug's a bore, and coasting’s no use except 
for kids. And where does that leave you? 
Ugh I ” 

Nobody answered Step’s question. There 
was a long silence, broken by that youth 
himself. 

Worst winter I ever saw — yah ! ” 

Sam Parker shook his head doubtfully. 

Oh, I don’t know about that, Step. Seems 
to me this is a good deal like all the rest of 
’em.” 

“ And if you want something to keep you 
busy, there’s always school,” put in the Trojan 
with a chuckle. 

” School ? Oh, thunder ! ” snapped Step 
with scorn. 

Poke Green waved a hand, an oratorical 
hand ; thereby signifying that he had reached 
a readiness to address the meeting. 

“ Listen, you fellows I You don’t know 
what you’re talking about, because you start 
in and say things first and think about ’em 
afterward. So you get ’em about half right 
and half wrong.” 

“ Go it, old Solomon ! ” Herman Boyd en- 
couraged. 


THE CLUB CONFERS 


^7 

Poke needed no spur. “ Kerens Step calling 
this the worst winter that ever was, which it 
isn’t. And here’s Sam trying to make out 
that it’s just like any other winter, which it 
isn’t, either. If this climate ever got as mon- 
otonous as all that, it’d go out of business. 
There have been better winters that I can re- 
member, and there have been worse. The 
trouble with all of them is that there is too 
much of a muchness about them.” 

Then the Shark spoke crisply : Applying 
that to school, too ? ” 

I am,” said Poke solemnly. This term’s 
the long pull — no holidays to break it — no 
Thanksgiving — not even Washington’s birth- 
day.” 

They have it in lots of places,” the Trojan 
put in. 

“ Well, we don’t — and I’m talking about us. 
So right through to the Easter recess we have 
to pound away, and it gets tiresome, I tell 
you. And what’s true of school is true of the 
weather. Winter’d be all right if it ended 
along in January. Everybody’d feel braced 
up and ready for spring. But does it happen 
that way? No, sir I Winter keeps on doing 


i8 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


business along into March or April — yes, or 
into May.” 

“ Our furnace was going last June,” Herman 
Boyd contributed. 

Sam’s expression was thoughtful. Well, 
Poke,” he said, I follow your argument — if 
it is an argument. But what does it lead 
to?” 

‘‘ To my conclusion,” quoth Poke with all 
possible gravity. 

What is it?” 

Poke ran his glance over his club-mates ; all 
were attentive. 

‘^What is it?” he repeated. ‘‘Can’t you 
see for yourselves that it can be only one 
thing? The trouble with us is that we need 
variety I ” 

“ But you said the weather was varied,” 
objected Sam. 

“But it’s winter weather all the time, just 
as school’s school, no matter whether you’re 
reciting Greek or trigonometry. Then there’s 
another point. In summer people are com- 
ing and going, and making visits ; in winter 
everybody’s shut up more or less. We don’t 
get enough human variety.” 


THE CLUB CONFERS 


19 

Sam rubbed his chin. Why — why, I 
don’t know but there’s something in your 
notion, after all,” he admitted. 

There’s a lot I ” Poke insisted trium- 
phantly. 

It was not often that the Shark laughed ; 
but he laughed now in a fashion which made 
his friends turn to him in surprise. 

Ha, ha I You chaps seem to forget that 
we have with us in this town one Paul Var- 
ley. If he isn’t a queer variety of human, I’ll 
square the circle for you — and that’s some- 
thing nobody has done yet.” 

Oh, Varley ! ” 

What! That dude?” 

What have we got to do with him ? ” 

Say 1 Isn’t he the limit ? ” 

The Shark listened calmly to these remarks 
of his friends. 

“ Well, I said he represented variety, and I 
stick to it,” quoth he drily. 

Sam turned to Poke. “ Do you mean that 
we ought to take in Varley ? ” he demanded 
a bit hotly. 

There was a murmur of dissent. Member- 
ship in the Safety First Club was not lightly 


20 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

granted, and Paul Varley was not high in 
favor. 

“ I didn^t mean anything of the sort,” said 
the Shark. But if anybody wants entertain- 
ment in this town this winter — why, there's 
Varley to look at.” 

“Yes; and listen to,” Herman Boyd chimed 
in. 

“ Huh I You talk as if you really knew 
him,” Step commented. 

“ I do — after a fashion. But Orkney knows 
him better.” 

Tom Orkney shook his head. “ Guess I’ll 
refer you to Sam ; he knows him best of all.” 

“Oh, Varley’s a ” Sam began impa- 

tiently, but quickly checked himself. “ I 
dare say he’s a very good fellow,” he added 
after a little pause. 

“ Hang it, Sam, finish what you started to 
tell us I ” cried Step. 

Sam hesitated. Among the lessons he had 
been learning was that Safety First might be 
as advisable in speech as in action. Besides, 
he wished to be fair. It might not happen 
that any of the club would have a great deal 
to do with Varley, but he was well aware that 


THE CLVB CONFERS 


21 


a few careless words might prejudice all of 
them against the newcomer. 

“ Why — why, Tve talked hardly half an 
hour with him altogether. He seemed to be 
good-natured.^^ 

Didn't he ride his high horse for you ? '' 

“ Not much — very little," said Sam. Of 
course, he comes from a big city. And he’s 
been at big * prep ’ schools. And he’s used to 
the rush, and crowds, and all that sort of 
thing. I don’t know, though, that he tried 
to rub it in — that we aren’t crowded here, I 
mean. And he did seem friendly — got to say 
that for him.’’ 

** Up here for his health, isn’t he ? ’’ queried 
Step. Gay life knocked him out, didn’t it ? ’’ 

“ He didn’t put it that way. He said he 
was rather run down, and so his folks shipped 
him up here to visit the Bateses — Mrs. Bates 
is his aunt, you know.’’ 

How long is he going to stay ? " 

I don’t believe it’s settled.’’ 

Huh I He’s rigged out as if he were on a 
polar expedition." 

Sam’s lips twitched. Well, he is outfitted 
pretty gorgeously." 


22 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


“ I should say he was! 

That’s nothing against him, though.” 
Poke wagged his head sagely. No ; fine 
feathers don’t make fine birds, or spoil ’em 
either. When you take time and think about 
it ” 

You wait your turn. Poke,” Step objected. 
** Let Sam finish.” 

I’m through,” said Sam. 

** Oh, I guess we’re all through with Varley 
before we really begin with him,” quoth Step. 
« We’ve got our crowd. I don’t see how he 
can make much difference to us. We’re all 

of us right here now, and ” 

Herman Boyd, who had been looking out 
of the window, whistled sharply, sprang to 
his feet, peered through the pane, then re- 
treated swiftly. 

‘‘ Whew I Talk about angels or people I ” 
he exclaimed. “ Great Scott I but he must be 
coming here. I saw him turn in at the gate 

and ” 

“ Who turned in ? ” 

” What are you driving at ? ” 

Who’s coming? ” 

They rained questions upon him ; but Her- 


THE CLUB CONFERS 23 

man had no need to answer. Indeed, before 
he could do so, a hand was laid on the knob, 
and with no preliminary knock the door was 
swung. And there in the opening stood Paul 
Varley, quite at his ease and with a compla- 
cent smile on his face. 


CHAPTER II 


VARLEY GETS ACQUAINTED 

There were seconds in which amazement 
held the members of the Safety First Club 
speechless and almost motionless. 

This open invasion of the privacy of the 
club was something wholly outside their ex- 
perience. A boy who didn’t belong might 
call there, of course, if he wished to see one 
of the members ; but he would be expected to 
halt outside and hail the club with a shout, 
or, at the most, to knock at the door and 
pause outside. And he would be quite as 
anxious to observe this code as the members 
would be anxious that he should observe it. 
A fellow didn’t care to enter where he was not 
wanted, and if he had been wanted, he would 
have been elected to membership. That was 
the way the matter was reasoned out. The 
conclusion was accepted by everybody in in- 
terest. So for one of the town boys to walk 
up to the door, and throw it open, and look 
24 


VARLET GETS AC^AINTED 25 

in at the assembled coterie, and do these 
things calmly and unconcernedly — well, none 
of the town boys would have thus conducted 
himself. But there was Paul Varley doing 
these things quite as a matter of course, thus 
proving himself not of the town and at the 
same time bringing embarrassment to the club. 

Varley stepped into the room. Hullo, 
everybody ! ’’ he said cheerily. “ Thought I’d 
drop in for a minute — I’ve heard a lot about 
this joint of yours, you know.” 

There was no response ; surprise still held 
the members of the club. 

Varley smiled genially. He was perhaps a 
year older than any of the Safety First boys, 
and a great deal more practised in some of the 
ways of the world. He ran his eye over the 
room, and spoke again : 

“ Pretty nifty — what ! Snug as a bug in a 
rug, aren’t you ? ” 

Oddly enough, it was the usually reticent 
Shark who first found tongue. 

'*We like it.” He threw an emphasis on 
the we,” to which Varley might have taken 
exception, had he been disposed to be critical. 
But the caller was not looking for trouble. 


26 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


I should think you would/’ he said 
smoothly. ** Fixed it up yourselves, didn’t 
you? Thought so. More fun to do it.” 

It did not seem to occur to the Shark that 
it was his business to make reply, and nobody 
else volunteered. Varley took off his cap. 
It was a handsome cap of fur. He unbut- 
toned his overcoat ; it was fur-lined. In fact, 
from head to heels he was outfitted for very 
cold weather, as if his garments had been 
selected for wear in semi-Arctic regions. 
Plainly enough, somebody had told him 
wonderful tales of winter temperatures “ up 
country.” 

The evidences that Varley intended to 
make a stay of some length stirred Sam to 
his duties as unofficial head of the club. 
Somehow, the r&le of spokesman seemed to 
fall to him, in times of emergency, by a sort 
of common consent. 

Er — er — why, how do you do ? ” he 
stammered. Won’t you take a seat ? ” 

Varley shook his head. He was still smil- 
ing in his friendly fashion. 

Why, no ; I’d rather look about a bit, if I 
might,” said he. “I’d heard so much, one 


FARLET GETS AC^AINTED 27 

way or another, about this den of yours, that 
I made up my mind I^d make a call. 
Thought, too, I'd find you all in about this 
time of day. Say, you’ve got a cracking good 
hang-out I Said you fixed it yourselves, didn’t 
you ? ” 

Then up spoke the Shark, testily : “ No- 
body said that.” 

But it’s the fact, all the same,” Sam 
hastened to remark. Yes ; what’s here we 
did, or made, or whatever you choose to 
call it.” 

** Smooth work, too,” said Varley quickly. 

Garage once, wasn’t it? ” 

Inasmuch as the club-house was the property 
of Step’s father. Step felt called upon to make 
reply. 

“ No — stable.” 

Varley turned to the tall youth. “ What- 
ever it began with being, it’s all right now. 
And it’s a bully good scheme you fellows 
have. Great place to loaf, this is I ” 

Now this was said affably enough, and 
with no trace of the condescending note for 
which the boys were listening keenly. A 
chap — an older chap — from a big city might 


28 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


be disposed to be patronizing ; and the Safety 
First Club did not care to be patronized. But 
no fault was to be found with Varley's 
manner. Sam felt moved to explain the plan 
the crowd had followed. 

‘^Oh, we got together what we could/^ 
said he. Each one contributed. Somebody 
brought an old sofa, and somebody else a table 
his folks weren't using any more, and so it 
went on. And if anybody had a picture he 
liked, he hung or tacked it up. That's the 
way it went, and — er — er — that's about the 
whole story." 

Varley nodded, and crossed the room to 
examine an old engraving. From this he 
went to inspection of a very modern cartoon 
from a newspaper. 

Liberty hall — I get the idea," quoth he. 
** And I like it. Gives variety. By the way, 
it's like the plan they have in some of the big 
clubs. Members contribute odds and ends — 
curios — they pick up. It'll make quite a 
museum after a while." 

“Or quite a junk shop I " interposed the 
Shark. He was staring hard at the visitor 
through his spectacles, and his expression was 


VARLEY GETS AC^AINTED 29 

dubious, if not hostile. The other boys moved 
uneasily. They had begun to recover from 
the surprise of the visit, and to understand 
that Varley felt himself on a purely friendly 
errand. Therefore there should be allowance 
for his ignorance of the local code, and avoid- 
ance of controversy. The Shark's speech em- 
barrassed them, but not Varley. He laughed, 
lightly and good-naturedly. 

You’re on the mark, at that. Museums 
and junk shops are a lot alike; but that 
doesn’t prevent ’em from being interesting. 
Why, I went into a queer old shop one day, 
and there was an old machine, with all sorts 
of rings and pivots, and hung on ’em was a — 
a — well, it looked like an oblong sphere 
and ” 

“ What I ” shouted the Shark. 

Varley glanced at him questioningly. '' I 
beg your pardon ? ” he said with a touch of 
formality. 

The Shark drew a long breath. “An 
oblong sphere I ” he repeated slowly. “Jee- 
whippiter ! ” 

Again it was Sam’s duty to explain. 
“ Don’t let the Shark bother you. He means 


30 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

well, but he^s a bug on mathematics — and 
cones, and circles, and cubes, and spheres, and 
— er — er — and all that sort of thing. But 
he’s harmless.” 

Once more Varley’s laugh saved the situa- 
tion. I understand. And he’s right, at that. 
What I meant was, that the thing was egg- 
shaped — almost, but not quite. And that 
little difference in shape, the inventor figured, 
was just what would make it a perpetual 
motion machine, that would keep going for- 
ever, once you started it. Of course, it didn’t 
work. But I say I ” — he was looking straight 
at the Shark — I say I If you’re up in the 
‘ math ’ I envy you. It’s my stumbling-block 
— gets me every time.” 

“ Umph I ” said the Shark non-committally. 
In his experience the world was strangely 
crowded with beings woefully deficient in the 
mathematical sense. He was learning to 
make allowances for their shortcomings. The 
visitor, by frank confession of incapacity, won 
a degree of toleration, if not of approval. 

Yes ; it gets me every time,” Varley went 
on. I’ve had half a notion to see if I 
couldn’t go into the senior class at your high 


VARLET GETS AC^AINTED 31 

school, just to brush upon the mathematical 
review — maybe I shall yet. But first I want 
to get better acquainted with the town and 
the people. That^s why I dropped in on your 
crowd. And now that IVe said * Howdy, ^ 
ril move along.^^ 

Oh, don’t be in a hurry,” said Sam politely. 

For the first time the blackboard, with its 
boldly chalked inscription, caught Varley’s 
eye. 

Hullo I What’s that? Safety First Club? 
Say, that’s a funny name for a lot of boys to 
pick out I ” 

** Well, it pleases us,” said Sam, a little 
curtly. 

Varley’s ready smile was in evidence. “ So 
I supposed, or you wouldn’t have chosen it. 
But it’s an odd name, all the same.” 

Sam hesitated an instant. It — well, maybe 
it is odd. But some things happened to im- 
press. us with the need of looking before we 
leaped. So we agreed on the name. Then 
other things happened to impress us some 
more, and we kept it.” 

“ I see,” said Varley ; but then he repeated. 

Safety First Club, Safety First?” as if he 


32 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

were still puzzled. “ Somehow, that seems to 
bar a lot of fun.^^ 

Oh, we manage to get along.’^ 

Where do you draw the line between 
what’s safe and what isn’t? ” 

Again Sam hesitated. Why — why, I guess 
there isn’t any general rule. You have to 
settle each case as it comes.” 

'' But what’s the rule for settling it ? ” 

The Shark came to Sam’s assistance. Law 
of chances,” he said curtly. 

“ Meaning ?” 

** Can you get away with it? Can’t dodge 
all risks, can you ? But when you have to 
take one, isn’t there a safer way than the first 
way you think of? Just stop and figure. It 
pays I ” 

Varley shook his head. That’s all right 
for mathematical sharps,” he said laughingly ; 
“ but I’m not in that class. The tree would 
fall on me, or I’d drown, or the bull would 
toss me over the fence, long before I could 
cipher out what the chances were.” 

Pays, all the same, to try,” the Shark 
insisted. 

Varley glanced a little inquiringly at Sam. 


VARLET GETS AC^AINTED 33 

As has been explained, he was older than the 
club’s members, and more versed in the ways 
of the world ; and now he had an intuition 
that the boys, while satisfied with their club’s 
title, were not eager to discuss it with a com- 
parative stranger. He looked at Sam, but 
Sam said nothing. 

The visitor buttoned his overcoat. Guess 
I’ll be running along,” he remarked. ** Mighty 
glad to have had a look at your den.” 

We’re glad you like it,” said Sam, re- 
minded of his manners. 

Varley moved toward the door. He was 
quite aware that nobody had asked him to 
call again, and for the first time since his 
arrival began to feel a trifie of embarrassment. 

“ Fine place — bully I ” he said. I — er — er 

— I don’t suppose anybody is going my way ? ” 

Now, there was something in the other’s 
manner which brought a sudden change in 
the plans of Sam Parker. Maybe his instinct 
of hospitality stirred ; he might at least escort 
this unbidden guest whom he had failed to 
welcome warmly. 

Guess I’ll trot along, too.” He caught up 
his cap and overcoat, put them on, and 


34 the safety first CLUB 

slipped into his overshoes. “ Ready, when, 
you are,’’ he added. 

Varley said, “ Well, so long, you fellows I ” 
and said it jauntily ; but he was silent while 
he walked away from the club-house with Sam. 
The latter also seemed to be tongue-tied. 
Indeed, the pause threatened to become awk- 
ward for both of them, when Varley, with an 
effort, ended it. 

“ Great winters you have up here I ” he said 
jerkily. Must be no end of sport, when you 
get the hang of things. Can’t say I’ve quite 
done that yet.” 

“ You’ll get it quickly enough,” Sam as- 
sured him. 

“Hope so,” said Varley. “I’d like ” 

he broke off abruptly. “ Hear that? What’s 
happening up the street?” 

Sam didn’t answer. Indeed, he had no 
need to do so. Like Varley, he had heard 
the sharp “ honk, honk I ” of an automobile 
horn rising above the jingle of sleigh-bells, and 
then a woman’s shriek of alarm, and the quick 
beat of hoofs on the icy roadway. A horse, 
drawing a light cutter, had taken fright at a 
passing motor car, had got out of control of 


VARLET GETS AC^AINTED 35 

the woman who held the reins, and was mak- 
ing a frantic bolt. Turning, the boys had a 
glimpse of a wiry bay, neck outstretched, ears 
back, red nostrils distended ; of a sleigh sway- 
ing wildly ; of a woman tugging vainly at the 
reins. 

Runaway I gasped Varley. Then he did 
the instinctive thing, and the plucky thing. 
The horse was very near, and coming fast. 
Varley sprang into the street. Promptly as 
he acted, though, there was a second in which 
his eyes were on Sam ; and in that instant he 
had a queer impression that his companion 
was about to do as he was doing. But Sam 
suddenly appeared to change his plan, for he 
wheeled, and ran down the street, approach- 
ing the track of the runaway, not directly but 
on a long diagonal. 

There flashed on Varley an ugly doubt of 
Sam's courage. Then for a little he forgot 
everything but the galloping horse, and the 
part he meant to play in stopping the mad- 
dened animal. He leaped over the piled up 
snow lining the sidewalk, and gave a great 
bound for the horse's head. He was not reck- 
oning risk, or chances — or conditions, for that 


36 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

matter. It had not occurred to him that just 
at this point the frozen road, with its thin, 
greasy coating was extraordinarily slippery 
and treacherous under foot. He hardly real- 
ized what was happening, when, as he was 
about to grasp the bridle, his feet shot from 
under him. The shoulder of the runaway 
struck him. Luckily, it was only a glancing 
blow, but it sent him reeling back, out of 
danger of contact with plunging hoofs or 
lunging sleigh. Down he went in a heap, 
sorely shaken and with the breath half driven 
from his body ; and there he lay, recovering 
his wits and his wind, while he watched Sam, 
twenty yards away, score success where he had 
failed. 

Sam sprang much as Varley had sprung; 
but he caught the reins close to the bit, and 
was not shaken off. Not that he was able to 
check the runaway's career at once — as a mat- 
ter of fact, he was dragged a considerable dis- 
tance. He forced the horse, though, out of 
the beaten track and into the deeper snow, 
and little by little he reduced the speed. The 
animal struggled hard, but Sam kept his hold. 
Two or three men came running up ; and in a 


VARLEY GETS ACQUAINTED 37 

moment more the horse was at a standstill, 
trembling like a leaf, but again under control ; 
his driver had been assisted from the sleigh, 
and was thanking Sam so warmly for his 
timely help that the boy, blushing hotly, was 
glad to beat a retreat and return to Varley, 
who by this time had picked himself up, and 
was brushing the snow from his overcoat. 

“ Great Scott I but that was a star job of 
yours I ” was his greeting. 

Oh, it was just luck,^^ Sam answered 
modestly. 

Luck ? 

Yes ; luck to find better footing than you 
had.^^ 

Varley gave a queer little groan. Thun- 
der ! I didn't think about that." 

“ Well, right here's one of the smoothest 
places you can find anywhere ; you need 
spiked shoes to stand on it. Farther on, 
though, it is rougher — rough enough to give 
you half a show, anyway. I saw how it was 
and ran along a bit. If you'd thought to do 
that, you'd have been all right. You made 
just as good a try as I did." 

Varley glanced at the other keenly. “ Look 


38 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

here I First off, you were starting straight out 
just as I did. Then you stopped, and changed 
your scheme. You had the real hunch. I 
was stood on my head, and you got away with 
things. And all the difference was, you took 
time to think.^^ 

I tried to,'' said Sam quietly. 

“ It was a clever plan. But I say ! " Varley 
paused an instant, his expression half admir- 
ing, half uncertain. Come now I You talk 
about belonging to a Safety First Club, yet 

you pile in in a case like this " 

Sam interrupted him. Our kind of Safety 
First doesn't mean wrapping yourself up in 
cotton wool and stowing yourself away on a 
shelf. It doesn't mean dodging all risks — 
you've got to take some. But it does mean 
finding the best way to take them, if they 
seem to be necessary, and cutting them out, if 
they're not necessary. That's all there is to it." 

Varley finished his task of brushing the 
snow from his coat. He straightened himself, 
and looked at Sam. 

Somehow or other, Parker, it strikes me 
there's a lot to be said for that notion of 
yours," he remarked with conviction. 


CHAPTER III 


UNCOMFOKTABLE GLORY 

Sam Parker was disposed to think little 
and say less of the incident of the runaway 
horse. He had come out of the affair with 
some credit and a slightly sprained wrist, but 
he made no mention of either at home or at 
the Safety First Club. At school a somewhat 
vague report was circulated that there had 
been a frightened horse and a very good 

stop ” ; but none of the pupils happened to 
have been about at the time of Sam’s exploit, 
and the story went the rounds without bring- 
ing in his name. Sam was quite content with 
this ; and as he did not see Paul Varley for 
several days, he regarded the episode as a 
closed chapter. 

Meanwhile he was working hard at his 
books. He stood well in his classes, though 
he headed none of them ; and he had an in- 
centive for study. 

Sam expected to spend the last year of his 
39 


40 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

preparation for college at St. Mark’s, a famous 
school for boys. He was to go there in the 
autumn, after completing the third year of his 
course at the town high school ; and inasmuch 
as his father’s consent to this arrangement had 
not been easily won, he prized it all the more 
highly. It had been granted, indeed, only 
after a series of adventures had satisfied Mr. 
Parker that his son was possessed of certain 
valuable qualities of self-reliance and discre- 
tion. Sam, reasonably, was greatly pleased 
with the outcome, and his satisfaction was in- 
creased by the fact that both Step and Poke 
were to be sent to St. Mark’s with him, while 
it was by no means impossible that one or two 
others of the club might join the colony. He 
looked forward eagerly to his year at the big 
school, but with a sensible understanding that 
good scholarship would be much to his ad- 
vantage. 

Sam lacked the mathematical talent of the 
Shark, just as he had no such peculiar knack 
as Step showed in Greek. The tall youth 
shone in translations from the tongue of 
Xenophon and Homer in a manner which 
was wholly inexplicable to his friends — as 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 41 

they frequently remarked with much feeling. 
In Latin Step was a mediocre performer ; his 
French left much to be desired, but when it 
came to Greek — Why, he eats it alive I 
was Poke's admiring declaration. Sam, being 
without such special genius, found none of 
his studies very easy — and, no doubt, profited 
the more in mental drill because he had to 
work for what he gained. His class rank was 
good, if not distinguished ; and he stood well 
with the school principal and the other in- 
structors, who saw that he was an influential 
fellow among his mates, including many who 
were not of the charmed circle of the club. 

Trudging to school one morning — it was 
several days after the aflair of the runaway — 
Sam fell in with Poke, who appeared to be 
in a curious mood. Ordinarily, Poke was a 
cheery soul, and good-natured, but this day 
gloom was upon him. He answered Sam's 
hail with something very like a growl ; and 
when they fell into step, he groaned unmis- 
takably as response to the other's remark that 
it wasn't such a bad morning." 

Sam looked at him wonderingly. 

What's the row ? " he asked. 


^2 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

Poke dug his hands deeper into his pockets, 
and sank his chin in his coat-collar. 

Oh, nothing I He said it as dismally as 
if everything had gone wrong. 

Don’t you feel well? ” 

Well enough — that isn’t it.” 

But what is, then ? ” 

Poke hesitated ; he seemed to be struggling 
between eagerness and reluctance. 

« I — I — well, something’s going to happen.” 

What ? ” Sam demanded. 

Just wish I knew I ” cried Poke fervently. 

Sam took him by the shoulder, and shook 
him vigorously. 

“ Wake up, Poke I You’re dreaming.” 

Oddly enough. Poke caught at the sugges- 
tion. 

It was a dream, all right, but it wasn’t a 
common dream. I tell you, it was a — er — er 
— it must have been a warning ! ” 

‘‘ What sort of warning? ” 

Poke wagged his head heavily. My I 
but I wish to-day was safely over I ” he said 
ominously. 

Sam laughed. It was a skeptical laugh, 
but it had a trace of uneasiness. 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 43 

Go on I You^re joking I ” 

Poke heaved a tremendous sigh. “ Well, I 
guess you wouldn’t be talking about joking 
if you’d had that dream yourself I ” 

What was it about? ” 

“ Everything — all mixed up I Course I 
can’t remember it all — you never can. But 
we were in it — all the fellows in the club 
were. And the way it went — Geeminy I first 
thing I knew I was sitting up in bed and 
yelling like an Indian. And I couldn’t get 
to sleep again, and the thing has been hang- 
ing over me ever since. It won’t go away. 
That’s why I feel in my bones that some- 
thing is going to happen, and why I wish 
this day were over. Why, Sam, that was 
the meanest dream, the scariest dream — the — 
the ” 

Poke broke off ; for round a corner came 
the Shark and Step Jones. And, of a sudden, 
it had occurred to the seer of visions that the 
Shark was the last person of his acquaintance 
who was likely to show sympathy for such a 
tale. But the newcomers had caught part of 
his speech. 

What you driving at, Poke ? ” Step in- 


44 the SAFETT first CLUB 

quired. '' Talking about dreams, weren't you? 
Go ahead I " 

Oh, it's nothing of any importance," said 
Poke hastily. 

“ Huh I Seemed to be important enough 
a minute ago," Step remarked. What was 
the yarn, Sam ? " 

Poke preferred to do his own explaining, if 
explanation there had to be. 

I was telling Sam a story — yes ; a story 
about a dream I had last night. And — well, 
I was telling him, too, that it worried me. It 
wasn't a common dream — not by a long shot I 
And — and if you've got to have the whole 
thing, it is worrying me a lot ! There's 
trouble brewing for somebody, a heap of 
trouble." 

Step regarded Poke with wide-opened eyes 
and sagging jaw, but the Shark's lip curled 
scornfully. 

** Nonsense I " he jeered. 

** I tell you, it was a warning I " Poke in- 
sisted. 

“ Warning of what ? " 

Why — why, I don’t know ; that's just the 
trouble." 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 45 

The Shark was regarding the prophet of 
evil very steadily. Poke,” said he, what did 
you eat last night before you went to bed ? ” 

Noth — that is, nothing to speak of.” 

‘‘ Let^s hear about it, all the same.” 

Poke wriggled, but the Shark’s eye held 
him. Well, I was sort of hungry, so I went 
out to the pantry, and had a nibble.” 

At what ? ” 

Oh, anything I came across. But it was 
just a bite.” 

How many bites ? ” 

Oh, a few, I suppose. It was only a 
snack.” 

Crackers ? ” 

No.” 

Cake?” 

Poke reddened. 'Twa’nT cake — it was a 
piece of pie, if you’ve got to know. But I 
don’t see ” 

The Shark gave a queer, barking laugh. 

Ho, ho I Pie, eh ? Mince pie. I’ll bet you I ” 

Poke tried to assume an air of offended 
dignity. ** Well, it was mince, if that’s any 
comfort to you.” 

‘‘Ate a whole pie, didn’t you?” 


46 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ No, sir 1 shouted Poke indignantly. It 
had been cut.^^ 

The Shark turned to the other boys. ** Oh, 
come along I said be. Guess weVe treed 
the ghost that sat on the foot-rail of Poke's bed 
and made faces at him. We'll be late at 
school if we don't wake up." 

Sam and Step moved on with the Shark, 
Poke following dejectedly. 

“ All right — have it your own way I " he 
called after them. You don't have to be- 
lieve anything's going to happen, but you just 
wait and see I I tell you, this day is going to 
be a bad one for somebody 1 " 

It cannot be said that either Sam or Step 
attached much more importance than did the 
Shark to Poke's forebodings ; and the morn- 
ing's work proceeded in a manner to remove 
all traces of uneasiness. Things went well 
for all the members of the club. None of 
them was tardy. Lessons appeared to be well 
learned, and teachers were in good humor. 
Even Poke himself shone in recitation, though 
he droned through his translations in mourn- 
ful fashion, and declined to be consoled by 
approving words from the instructors. 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 47 

At the opening of the Junior classes English 
period the principal of the school entered the 
room, and after a whispered word or two with 
the teacher took the platform. 

‘‘ I have an announcement to make,’^ he 
said. I have chosen this time and place 
because it deals with something more or less 
directly connected with the work of this class 
in English. And to go straight to the point, 
the announcement deals with a very desirable 
prize, to be awarded in a competition open to 
all of you, and in which I hope many of you 
will take part.^^ 

A rustle ran through the assembled class. 
Everybody was interested, with the exception 
of the despondent Poke, who merely slumped 
a little lower in his seat. 

The principal cleared his throat, and went 
on. A friend of the school, who was engaged 
in local historical research, was ready to pay 
one hundred dollars to the pupil who should 
produce the best essay on the settlement and 
early days of the town. Industry in the 
collection of facts would be given quite as 
much consideration as the style and finish of 
the essays. 


48 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ In short/^ the principal added, the con- 
ditions will be such that all of you will find 
this a fair field of rivalry. It is not the 
intention to limit any contestant rigidly in 
the matter of space ; though I must warn you 
that waste of words will count adversely. 
You can have room for all the facts you 
gather, but this means room for concise state- 
ment. The contest will close on the first of 
April, when the essays must be handed in ; 
and the winner will be announced as soon 
thereafter as possible. A detailed statement 
of the conditions of the competition will be 
posted at once on the bulletin-board.” 

Then the principal walked out of the room, 
and the class broke discipline for a little to 
discuss this great news in eager whispers. A 
hundred-dollar prize for a composition 1 That 
was the way most of them put the matter. 
And a hundred dollars seemed to be most 
inviting. Besides, there was hardly a boy or 
girl there who didnT feel convinced that in 
some old aunt or uncle, or, better yet, grand- 
father or grandmother, was possible source of 
just the information that would win the 
competition. And style and finish were not 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 49 

to determine the result — there was a condition 
much to the general liking ; this wasn’t to be a 
contest practically limited to the half dozen 
Juniors with a known knack for writing. 
Even the Shark wagged his head approv- 
ingly, though he had no notion of entering 
the lists, white paper used for composition in- 
stead of figuring being more or less wasted, to 
his way of thinking. Only Poke remained 
indifferent, and sunk in gloom. 

The teacher, presently, called the class to 
order, and the recitation proceeded. At its 
close came recess, and the Juniors, flocking 
into the corridors and out to the school yard, 
fell to discussing the contest in all its bearings. 
Sam and his chums happened to be standing 
near the foot of the stairs when the principal 
came down from his office on the second floor, 
accompanied by a youth at whom the boys 
stared in surprise. For the youth was Paul 
Varley. 

Paul stopped to speak to the boys, and the 
principal checked his pace, as if waiting for 
the visitor to have his little talk with the 
others. 

Maybe I’ll be with you fellows,” Varley 


50 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

said. Some things I want to brush up on. 
Tve been going over the business with Mr. 
Curtis — he glanced at the principal — '‘and 
he thinks he can fix it for me.’^ 

" But wehe Juniors, and you'll be a Senior," 
Sam remarked. 

" No; more of an unclassified special student. 
I've had a pretty ' spotty ' preparation, you 
know ; and it struck me it would be a good 
thing to look after some of the weak spots 
while I'm here. So I made up my mind 

to I beg your pardon, madam I " 

Varley, as it chanced, was the only one of 
the group who was facing the entrance. This 
fact accounted for his sudden change of tone. 

A woman had come into the hall. She was 
a comfortable, middle-aged, plump person, 
whose hat was a trifle awry, and whose 
manner indicated much earnestness. 

None of the others had seen her come in, 
and none suspected her presence till Varley 
spoke. Then everybody turned quickly. 

" I'm looking for somebody," said the 
woman briskly. ** I guess he's somewhere 
round this school. Only — only I ain't quite 
as sure as I ought to be. And — and " 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 51 

she hesitated, peering at the faces before her. 
Compared with the light out-of-doors, the hall 
was somewhat dim. No, I don't know 
whether he's here or not," she concluded. 

“ And his name ? " It was Varley who 

put the question ; for Sam and his friends ap- 
peared to be tongue-tied, while the principal 
chanced to be in the background. 

“ Mercy me, but I don't know I That's the 
trouble — they didn't seem to know, either, any 
of them — the men, I mean." 

“ Ah I " said Varley courteously, but uncer- 
tainly. 

The principal stepped forward. I'm 
afraid we don't understand, madam," said he. 

If you'll kindly explain " 

The visitor laughed. Dear me, but some- 
how I always do manage to get the cart before 
the horse ! But the men, they said they 

thought Wait a minute, though I " She 

moved nearer Varley, and studied his face in- 
tently. Wait a minute ! I vow, but this 
one looks like the fellow. Yes ; he's the one. 
. . . No, he isn't, either. He's the boy 

that tried, and went rolling head over heels." 

Varley gave a sudden laugh. I get it! 


52 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

You^re talking about the runaway. And 
you^re right — I was the fellow who took the 
tumble.'^ 

The runaway ? Two or three of the boys 
spoke in chorus, wonderingly. Sam Parker 
instinctively began to edge away. The move- 
ment caught the woman’s attention. A sharp 
glance at Sam, and her expression brightened. 
“ Here he is, sure enough I ” she cried. 

He didn’t tumble, and he held on like grim 
death till the colt stopped, and the men came 
running up to help. And then he slipped off 
before I could get my breath or my manners 
back enough to say ‘ Thank you ! ’ But I’m 
going to say it now, and say it out loud I ” 
With that, she briskly pursued the retreat- 
ing Sam, overhauled him, and cast an affec- 
tionate arm about his shoulders. Then, hold- 
ing him prisoner, she addressed all within 
hearing. 

I don’t know what you’ve heard or haven’t 
heard about this, and I don’t care. I’m going 
to give my testimony. This boy ” — she gave 
Sam a vigorous hug — this boy did a brave 
thing. He took the chance of breaking his 
neck, when my colt was frightened by one 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 53 

of those pesky automobiles and made a 
bolt. This boy — another hug — “ stopped 
him, and saved me from being killed, or get- 
ting an awful spill. And I've come here to 
look him up, and thank him good and proper 
— so there I " 

Now, to tell the truth, Sam at the moment 
looked anything but a hero ; for he was wrig- 
gling and struggling vainly, and blushing fu- 
riously and unhappily. So public and so de- 
monstrative a display of gratitude over- 
whelmed him. 

<< I — I — oh, 'twasn't anything," he stam- 
mered. 

I tell you, it was a whole lot to me I " de- 
clared the woman. And I've been racking 
my brains how to show how I feel about it." 
Again her arm tightened, and for a panic- 
stricken second Sam thought she was about to 
kiss him then and there, and in the presence 
of the crowd. He made a frantic effort for 
freedom, and his captress, who may have had 
some notion of boyish diffidence, released him, 
her eyes twinkling. 

Sam would have given much for the privi- 
lege of instant flight ; but luckily kept his 


54 the SAFETT first CLUB 

wits and held his ground. To run away 
would be merely to add fuel to the fire of ridi- 
cule to which he believed his mates would 
subject him. So he tarried, and miserably at- 
tempted to smile, thereby deceiving nobody, 
and least of all the visitor. 

With a degree of tact she turned to the 
principal. 

You’re Mr. Curtis, aren’t you? I thought 
that was your name. Mine’s Grant — Mrs. 
John Grant. I live over in Sugar Valley. I 
guess that’ll do for introductions, though you 
might as well tell me this boy’s name, if you 
please.” 

Samuel Parker,” said Mr. Curtis. 

“ I won’t forget it, or what its owner did for 
me. I’ve tried to thank him, but I ain’t sure 
that I’ve exactly tickled him in doing it.” 
She smiled whimsically, and Sam, in spite of 
himself, winced. “ But what I hope he’ll un- 
derstand, and all of you will understand, is 
that I’m his friend for life. I’d like to do 
something to show how I feel about it. And 
I will do something I ” Suddenly she wheeled 
to face Sam. Come now ! All boys I ever 
heard of liked good things to eat. It may 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT 55 

strike you as not amounting to much, but 1^11 

send you one of my mince pies 

“ Oh, but you mustn’t I ” Sam protested. 
“ It — it’ll be too much trouble.” 

Mrs. Grant paid scant heed to the objection. 

I guess you don’t know the kind of pie I 
mean. There’s pies and pies, young man. 
And you won’t forget the one I send you.” 

Poor Sam feared that this was likely to 
prove a very mild statement. Forget ? Would 
that he could forget the whole affair, or better 
yet, that his chums might forget this most 
embarrassing episode ! But while he grinned 
feebly, and strove to contrive a fitting speech, 
Mrs. Grant came to his rescue by bidding 
everybody a cheery farewell and taking her- 
self off, apparently well pleased with the re- 
sults of her visit to the school. 

Well, I feel like old Columbus when he 
sighted America — he’d come a long way to 
find something, and he’d found it. And ’tis 
quite a drive in from Sugar Valley, but ’twas 
worth the trouble. I’ve found out things. 
So it’s a good day’s work for me — and. Master 
Parker, I’ll try to make it a good day for you, 
too. You’ll hear from me again and — no ; 


56 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

you wait and see what^ll happen. So good- 
bye, everybody, good-bye I 

Out of the door and down the steps she 
went, smiling broadly, while behind her 
silence reigned for seconds. All eyes were 
on Sam, as he was most miserably aware. 
Other pupils had come up in time to hear her 
closing remarks, and there was quite a little 
crowd in the corridor, including some of the 
girls. 

One of the latter ended the silence. She 
tittered nervously rather than mischievously. 
There was a ripple of laughter ; then some of 
the boys set up a shout in the very presence 
of the principal. 

Poor Sam would have blessed his stars had 
a trap-door opened beneath his feet and per- 
mitted him to drop out of sight. But the 
stout floor remained intact. The principal 
raised a warning hand, and shook his head 
at some of those who were giving way to 
mirth ; but Sam did not wait for order to be 
restored. He turned, and blindly forcing a 
way through the press, retreated as best he 
might, but in most unheroic fashion. He 
had not been afraid of a runaway horse, but 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT S7 

with all a boy^s diffidence he dreaded the 
sort of celebrity his exploit unexpectedly had 
brought him. 

On the outskirts of the group Poke tugged 
at the Shark’s sleeve. 

There now I What did I tell you ? ” he 
demanded. 

The Shark peered through his glasses at 
his friend. Poke was no longer gloomy. He 
was grinning with a queer effect of utter 
complacency. 

One time or another you’ve told me a 
lot of idiotic things,” growled the Shark. 
“ Which particular one do you mean now ? ” 

That warning — warning of trouble for 
somebody.” 

“ Rats I ” 

Poke wagged his head. Look here, Shark I 
1 said it, and you heard me say it. I told 
you I was sure a heap of trouble was coming to 
somebody. Well, it came I Old Sam caught 
it. I wouldn’t have been in his shoes just 
now for — for — for I don’t know what. Neither 
would you. So the warning made good I ” 

The Shark rubbed his chin with an un- 
usual manner of doubt. Why — why — well, 


58 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

it was fierce for Sam. But I — I'd hate to 
admit " 

“ Course you would I " Poke interrupted. 
^‘You're prejudiced. You don’t believe in 
anything unless you can put it in figures." 

The taunt swept away the Shark's inde- 
cision. ** Warning — nothing I " he snapped. 
“ Too much mince pie, that's all I " 

Poke's grin was triumphant. " All right I 
Call it too much mince pie, if you want 
to. But wait till Sam gets that pie that's 
promised him, and the crowd hears about it I 
Then I guess you'll think I was right all 
through." 

** Huh ! " grunted the Shark skeptically. 

Poke laughed aloud. “ Ho, ho, ho I I 
don't beat you often. Shark, but when I do, 
I beat you all to pieces. Talk about mince 
pie, if you want to. I'll talk about it, too, 
and when we get through, we’ll see who hits 
nearer the truth. Just you wait and see, 
and " 

But the Shark was moving away. For once, 
at least, he found it impossible to maintain 
argument against Poke, the unmathematical 
philosopher and seer of strange visions. 


UNCOMFORTABLE GLORT S9 

Sam’s good deed had brought him most 
embarrassing reward. Of this the Shark was 
quite as convinced as Poke could be, or Sam 
himself. 


CHAPTER IV 
sam’s counsellor 

Sam took the matter of Mrs. Grant's grati- 
tude and the promised pie much to heart. 
He was, as it happened, a sensitive fellow, 
and he was of the age at which dread of ridi- 
cule is perhaps keenest. So he readily im- 
agined that the whole school was laughing at 
him and the picture he must have presented 
with Mrs. Grant's stout arm about his shoul- 
ders ; and made himself miserable by suspicion 
of amusement in every glance he caught and 
of personal application in every laugh he 
heard. 

He had been reasonably satisfied with the 
manner in which he had stopped the run- 
away, and might not have objected to a cer- 
tain amount of publicity, provided it could 
have come in the right way. If some man, 
who had been a witness of the affair, should 
have met him on the street, and clapped him 
on the shoulder, and growled Clever job 
60 


SAM^S COUNSELLOR 


6i 

you did, youngster I or Good work, son I ” 
— why, that would have been all right, and 
quite in accord with his idea of the pro- 
prieties. But to be hugged and patted, and 
promised a pie, with his club-mates and 
others looking on, to say nothing of the 
principal — truly, Sam felt that his was a 
hard and undeserved fate. 

His behavior was somewhat like that of 
most stricken creatures ; that is, he sought 
solitude. He shunned the club. From 
school he went straight home, and there, 
curled up in a corner of the library, read or 
studied industriously. Even to his father 
and mother he said little, and to neither did 
he confide a syllable of his unhappy experi- 
ence. This sort of thing went on for two or 
three days, with the natural result that by 
much brooding upon his troubles he magni- 
fied them out of all proportion, and made 
himself so genuinely miserable that, at last, 
he was driven in desperation to seek diver- 
sion. He tried to find it at the club, and 
again his luck was bad. 

Trojan Walker had the gift of mimicry, 
and Herman Boyd liked to devise little 


62 THE SJFETT FIRST CLUB 


dramatic scenes. Sam walked in upon the 
assembled club, just in time to behold the 
Trojan, with a shawl wrapped about him to 
increase his resemblance to Mrs. Grant, pre- 
senting a lump of dough on a toy pie-plate to 
Herman, to the extreme delectation of the 
spectators. Step and Poke were roaring with 
laughter, and even the solemn Shark was 
chuckling. 

Heroic youth, accept this slight trifle as 
a testimonial of my deep and undying grati- 
tude and afiPection,^’ the Trojan was reciting. 

You risked your life to save me, and now 
you can risk it again. This is no common 
pie. It’s a — a — a ” 

There the Trojan hesitated, stammered, 
paused. He had caught sight of Sam, stand- 
ing in the doorway ; and something in the 
other’s face warned him that he was on dan- 
gerous ground. 

Oddly enough, it was the Shark who broke 
the silence, which for a moment held the 
group. 

Come in and shut the door, Sam,” he said 
curtly. You’re making a draught.” 

But Sam neither closed the door nor ad- 


SAM^S COUNSELLOR 63 

vanced into the room. Instead, he held his 
position, glancing from one to another of his 
chums. Poke laughed nervously ; Step fell 
to rubbing his jaw with a quaint air of per- 
plexity. The Trojan and Herman instinc- 
tively fell back a pace, as if expecting attack. 
Sam^s face was white, but his eyes were blaz- 
ing. 

There was another pause, which seemed 
very long to all the boys, watching the new- 
comer, and perceiving more or less clearly 
that he was having a hard fight to keep his 
self-control. Then, of a sudden, Sam turned 
on his heel, and strode out, slamming the 
door behind him, and leaving a party no 
longer in a mood for private theatricals. 

The Trojan cast his shawl into a corner; 
Herman dropped weakly into a chair. Poke, 
staring at the door beyond which Sam had 
vanished, spoke for all of them. 

“ Gee — minee ! he quavered. But who’d 
thought he^d take it as hard as all that?^* 

Meanwhile Sam was hurrying along the 
street. When he came to his father’s place, 
he turned in at the big gate, but instead of 
going to the house marched to the barn. 


64 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

There in a combined harness room and work- 
shop he came upon Lon Gates, coachman, 
chauffeur, gardener and general factotum of 
the Parker household, and also often coun- 
sellor and sometimes consoler of its youngest 
member. 

A glance showed Lon that Sam was flying 
storm signals. Out of the corner of an eye 
he watched the boy, who had dropped upon 
a bench near the little stove. A full minute 
passed before either spoke. 

Well?’^ Lon drawled, finally. 

Sam made no reply, but stared industriously 
at his shoes. 

Lon went on with his work — he was repair- 
ing a harness. He fitted a new buckle in 
place of an old one ; tested it ; glanced again 
at his young friend. 

“ I dunno, Sam, but you^d feel better if you 
got it out of your system,^^ he remarked lei- 
surely. 

No response from the youth on the bench. 

Lon continued his task for a time. Then 
he began to whistle. Sam stirred uneasily. 

“ WhaPs the matter? Out o^ tune, am I ? 
Lon inquired. 


SAM^S COUNSELLOR 65 

Way out I snapped the boy. 

Then Lon laughed. “ Ha, ha 1 Must 'a' 
ketched it off you, son. What^s the trouble, 
anyhow ? ” 

“ Noth — nothing.'^ 

“ All right — tell me about it.’^ 

Sam raised his head. Oh, it^s nothing — 
nothing to talk about, that is.” 

Well,” said Lon meditatively, “ it pays to 
experiment now and then. You never can 
tell ^bout some things. And there is sort of a 
relief, somehow, in usin^ the human voice — 
kinder safety-valve effect. And it looks to 
me as if you’d been bottlin’ up steam long 
enough. . . . T’other boys been rilin’ 

you, did you say ? ” 

“ Yes — but I didn’t say so.” 

Lon waved a hand. “ Well, now you’re 
started, go ahead. I’m listenin’.” 

Sam hesitated. It — it’s a long story.” 

“ What’s the odds? It’s a long time before 
we have to knock off for supper.” 

“ Oh, I couldn’t tell you everything.” 

'' Couldn’t, eh ? That club o’ yourn in it ? ” 
“ Hang the club I ” cried Sam hotly. “ I’ll 
never go there again I ” 


66 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Lon shook his head. '‘All right, maybe, 
only — only what do you fellers call your- 
selves ? Beats all how I forget names I ” 

“ It’s the Safety First Club.” 

“ Why, so it is I And ‘ Safety First ’ — that’s 
your motto, ain’t it? Good ’un, at that I It’ll 
keep you out of lots of mix-ups by makin’ you 
stop to think twice before you do things or say 
things you’ll be sorry for.” 

The red crept into Sam’s face. “ Oh, well, 
Lon,” he said, “ maybe I’ll go there again some 
time. But I wouldn’t now — you couldn’t hire 

me to. The way that crowd treated me ’* 

“ Hold on I All the crowd ? ” 

Sam reflected briefly. “ Orkney wasn’t 
there,” he admitted. “ But he’d have been 
as bad as the rest.” 

“ Don’t be top sure of that,” Lon advised. 
“ That Orkney boy thinks a heap of you, Sam 
— all the more, likely’s not, ’cause you’re 
kinder an acquired taste with him. Mind 
how you two started to scrap, and how you 
misjudged each other, and how he ran away, 
and how you was mighty glad to have a hand 

in bringin’ him back? And ” 

Sam stopped him. “ Lon, that’s all true. 


SAM^S COUNSELLOR 67 

But that^s another story. This one^s about 
me, and I — well, I'm the goat. And for that 
crowd to keep bringing up to me how that 
woman grabbed me, and told me she'd give 
me a mince pie — but say I I didn't mean to 
tell you." 

I know you didn't," said Lon calmly. 
** But now you might as well go ahead, and 
fill in the blanks in the yarn." 

Sam drew a long breath. It would be a re- 
lief to have a confidant, and he trusted Lon's 
discretion. 

Well, I'll tell you — tell you the whole 
thing," he said, and plunged into the narra- 
tive, beginning with his dash for the head of 
Mrs. Grant's runaway horse, and continuing 
through the scene at the school and the inter- 
rupted performance at the Safety First Club. 

Lon listened with admirable gravity. He 
understood perfectly Sam's frame of mind. 

** Jesso, jesso ! " he remarked sagely, when 
the tale was told. Riled you all up, Sam, 
didn't it ? But I dunno's there's anything real 
fatal about it. The Grants are mighty nice 
folks — I know 'em. Fine place they've got 
over to Sugar Valley, too. And Mis' Grant — 


68 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


she meant all right, only she didn’t realize, 
mebbe, that a boy’s more or less like a rabbit 
when it comes to public pettin’, and behaves 

accordin’. So, if you’d cut and run ” 

I couldn’t,” Sam explained hotly. 

Good thing you couldn’t. Same way 
when Mis’ Grant makes good with that mince 
pie ” 

There Sam’s wrath exploded. He raged for 
a moment or two, Lon listening patiently. 

** Well, it’ll be some mince pie,” he said at 
last, when the boy had paused for lack of 
breath. If I was you, I wouldn’t be de- 
clinin’ it ahead o’ time and sight unseen. 
You can never tell, you know, how the thing 
may strike you when it happens. Maybe 
you’ll be hungry, and maybe you’ll feel like 

treatin’ that club of yours ” 

No — no, siree I I’m through with ’em 1 ” 
Sam managed to gasp. 

^^Umphl Not flocking with ’em much, 
eh?” 

You bet not 1 Not after the way they 
ragged me I ” 

Lon meditated briefly. Sam,” he said, 

you’re an amazin’ human critter. Fust and 


SAM^S COUNSELLOR 69 

last, you have got a power 0’ human ways 
about you. And I reckon most every human 
with any spunk one time or another makes 
up his mind the whole world^s against him, 
and starts in to fight it. So he tries to kick 
the world 'round for a while, and likely’s not 
keeps it up until he notices that he’s stubbed 
his toe and the world ain’t takin’ any interest 
to speak of.” 

“ Huh ! ” 

Lon chuckled softly. “ Te he ! Say I 
Wonder if I ever told you about old Brod- 
man.” 

There was a little pause. Then Sam said. 
Guess not.” He spoke half curiously, half 
unwillingly. 

“ Well, old Brodman was a pretty decent 
citizen — all right in his way. But he was 
jest as human as you, Sam. So it happened 
once he got to figgerin’ that the town was 
down on him and treatin’ him mean. ‘ I’ll 
get even with ’em,’ he says to himself ; * I’ll 
have nothin’ to do with ’em.’ So off he goes, 
and flocks all by himself for a good, long 
spell. At last, though, it gets sorter tiresome, 
and back he trots, and runs smack into one 


70 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

of his old neighbors. ^ Hello I ^ says the neigh- 
bor, casual like. ‘ How do you do? ^ says old 
Brodman, all dignified. The neighbor yawns 
and looks at the sky. * Kinder threatening 
rain, ainT it? ^ says he. Old Brodman glares 
at him. * Look here ! ^ says he, ‘ don’t you 
and all the rest of the town know I’ve been 
away ? Hain’t ye missed me ? ’ * Wal, I 

wouldn’t exactly call it missed,” ’ says the 
neighbor. ‘ You see, Brodman, ’most every- 
body thought you was in jail.’ ” 

Sam sprang to his feet. He crossed the 
room to a window, through which he stared 
industriously. 

If you’d like to have the moral o’ that 
story/’ Lon went on, “ it’s that one human 
can’t buck all the rest. The odds are too big. 
What’s a ton to him ain’t a featherweight to 
the world. And applyin’ that moral to a 
case nearer home. I’d say you’d better make 
up your mind to go back to your crowd, and 
grin and bear it. And the more you grin, the 
less you’ll have to bear.” 

I won’t do it.” 

^'Umphl Safety First! Ain’t that your 
motto ? ” 



a 


9 9 


GRIN AND BEAR IT 







V 



> 






* » 


r 






$ 



^ - 


I 






J4 

’ m ' 

• I 






>•' 


J ; 



I 


» ** 

« 

» - 

. •-' 





SAM^S COUNSELLOR 


71 


“ It doesn’t apply here.” 

“ ’Deed it does I Don’t let your notions get 
twisted.” 

Sam continued to stare out of the window. 

You’re asking too much, Lon. I can’t stand 
being a butt for a lot of fool jokes — I won’t 
stand it ! ” 

What’ll you do ? Turn hermit ? ” 

Why — why, no.” 

Lon resumed his work. There was a long 
pause before he spoke. 

Sam, you take my advice. You’ve been 
mopin’ around the place for two-three days. 
Get out and stretch your legs. Take a big 
tramp — a reg’lar hike. Wonderful what a lot 
of brain fog you can walk away from if you 
walk far enough.” 

Sam shook his head. No fun in that. 
It’s beginning to snow, too.” 

Well, go to-morrow, then. A fresh fall 
will make crackin’ good snow-shoein’.” 

“No fun going alone.” 

Lon grinned. “ Son, I guess, after all, that 
story about old Brodman did sink in.” 

“ Huh ! Don’t think it’s much of a story,” 
Sam growled, and moved toward the door. 


72 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ That depends/^ Lon called after him. 
A story^s like a crowbar — makes all the 
difference in the world whether you use it 
right or wrong. 


CHAPTER V 


SNOW-SHOES 

The morning dawned clear and still. Over 
night there had been a fall of several inches 
of snow, freshening the white of the winter 
landscape. Even the roadways were not dingy 
now, while the fields were broad and smooth 
and shining expanses. Sam heard the call of 
out-of-doors, but hesitated to obey it. The 
day was his, to do with as he pleased, for it 
was Saturday, and there was no school session. 
But, somehow, the call was of the sort that 
one ought not to hear alone, being, indeed, a 
comradely, sociable call of good fellowship. 

To make the most of such a day one ought 
to be with one’s chums. Sam understood this 
perfectly— and stubbornly fought the under- 
standing. Lon’s advice had not been wasted, 
though it had not persuaded Sam to seek the 
Safety First Club boys again. 

After all, his problem was not so simple as 
73 


74 the SAFETT first CLUB 

it might appear to be. In addition to the re- 
sentment felt by a sensitive fellow, something 
was involved which, for want of a better term, 
might be called “ club politics.’^ Sam had 
been the leader of the crowd and of the club. 
Often his had been the deciding opinion, when 
his mates had failed to agree. It can hardly 
be said that he had consciously sought the 
leadership, but it could not be denied that he 
enjo3^ed it. And he was a sufficiently shrewd 
judge of boy nature — which is a good deal 
like human nature in general — to realize that 
a leader who is laughed at is not likely to re- 
tain his prestige. Besides, he had failed to 
take the easy way out of his trouble at the 
beginning. If he could have laughed with 
the others, and made a joke of his embarrass- 
ment, the whole affair might now be an old 
story ; but the others having rocked with 
laughter, while he stood miserably silent, it 
was still a story the club found intensely 
diverting. 

Sam pressed his nose against the window- 
pane, and stared unhappily at the crisp, white 
snow. It was very inviting — but the idea of 
a lonely tramp did not appeal to him. And 


SNOW-SHOES 


7S 

while he gazed disconsolately, Paul Varley 
came along the street, with a pair of snow- 
shoes under his arm. 

Sam regarded him hungrily. To tell the 
truth, Varley filled the eye. His gay-colored 
knitted cap was set jauntily on his head ; a 
mackinaw jacket of striking pattern was but- 
toned about him, and leggins and moccasins 
added to the general effect of his apparel. 

Sam watched the city youth disappear up 
the street. Then, suddenly, he turned from 
the window. Inspiration had seized him. 

Varley undoubtedly would put on his 
snow-shoes when he reached the outskirts 
of the town, and strike out over the hills. 
If he kept near the main road, it would be 
possible for a pursuer to use a short-cut, and 
overhaul him without much difficulty. Just 
at the time, too, Varley was almost the only 
fellow with whom Sam felt that he could fore- 
gather without sacrifice of pride, for in the 
matter of the runaway Varley’s part had been 
sufficiently inglorious. So Sam made haste. 
He got himself into cap and coat, and laid 
hold of his snow-shoes, and departed by way 
of back streets and paths which lessened dis- 


76 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

tance. Where the houses were few and far 
between, and there were long stretches of snow 
unmarked by runner or footprint, he adjusted 
his snow-shoes with practiced care, and headed 
up a little valley, marked here and there by 
clumps of trees. Traveling briskly, he soon 
reached the end of the valley, and climbed a 
low hill to his left. At its top ran the road 
Varley was likely to follow. So shrewdly 
had Sam made his calculations that, when he 
gained the summit, he saw the other approach- 
ing and hardly a hundred yards away. 

For a novice Varley was not doing badly. 
His speed, to be sure, was not great, and he 
floundered along a bit clumsily on his web- 
supports ; but he took no tumbles while Sam 
waited for him to come up. 

“ Hullo, Parker ! ’’ he called out, as he drew 
near. Where did you drop from ? 

“Oh, Pm just taking a little breezer,” re- 
sponded Sam carelessly. “ Pretty good going, 
eh?^^ 

Varley laughed. “ I guess it’s good ; I don’t 
know. This is a new game for me.” 

Sam surveyed him from head to foot. “ Well, 
you’re rigged for it, anyway.” 


SNOW-SHOES 


77 

“ Oh, I outfitted at one of the big sport- 
ing-goods stores before I left the city. Some- 
times I wonder if I didn't rather overdo 
it." 

You're all right," said Sam shortly, if 
encouragingly. “ Say I that's a newfangled 
sandal you've got there." 

Varley glanced at the leather foot-piece at- 
tached to the snow-shoe and into which his 
foot fitted snugly. 

They told me it was the latest thing. 
Somehow, though, I'm not sure that it works 
as it ought to." 

Down went Sam on his knee. He made 
close inspection ; pulled experimentally at one 
of the sandals ; shook his head. 

‘‘ Your left foot's too far back — gives you no 
toe-hold. Want me to shift it ? " 

“ Wish you would 1 " said Varley heartily. 
With interest he watched Sam set to work 
deftly, loosening the thongs which bound the 
sandal to the web and then readjusting them 
and knotting them firmly. 

“ There I Guess that'll give the play you 
need," said Sam, and stood up. 

Varley nodded. Feels better, anyway. 


78 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

And I say I Mind, do you, if I trot along 
with you ? 

Course not — come along ! '' Sam told him 
with real heartiness. 

Varley ran his glance over the miles of 
country visible from the little elevation on 
which they stood. The morning air was won- 
derfully clear, and the snow glittered bravely 
in the wintry sunshine. 

** Oh, but this is bully I he exclaimed. 

Tis pretty good,’’ Sam admitted. Look I 
Notice that peak sticking up to the north — 
way off — right on the sky-line? That’s old 
Pequaket — one of the big hills, you know. 
It’s all of seventy miles off — you can’t see it, 
except when things are right. And the little 
mountain to the south — that’s Rainbow. 
’Tisn’t much of a mountain, at that, but some- 
how it manages to make quite a show. And 
there’s a hotel at the base of it. Nice place, 
too. Began by being a summer house, but 
now one wing’s kept open for folks who come 
up for winter sports.” 

Varley shaded his eyes with his hand. 
** How far away’s the little mountain — Rain- 
bow, you called it, didn’t you?” 


SNOW-SHOES 


79 


Oh, eight or nine miles/^ 

Out went Varley’s arm. He pointed to a 
gap in a ridge to the right. 

“ That's a queer jog off there. What is it? 
Railroad cut ? " 

“ No ; it's the entrance to Sugar Valley." 

“ Ah," said Varley politely, but without es- 
pecial interest. 

Sam felt the blood rush to his face, but 
plunged ahead with the explanation he seemed 
to be bound to make. The valley widens 
out a lot a little way in. And there are some 
fine sugar camps — that's how the place gets its 
name." 

Sugar camps ? " Varley repeated doubt- 
fully. 

Yes — for making maple sugar." 

Oh, maple sugar ? I get you. I'd like to 
see 'em make it." 

Sam could have hugged him. Plainly 
enough, Sugar Valley did not suggest Mrs. 
Grant and her manifestation of gratitude. 

“ You'll have plenty of chances. The season 
comes when the snow goes. Now let's get 
along I Care where we go ? " 

“ Not a bit," said Varley. You lead." 


8o THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


It was rather incautious permission. Sam, 
elated by discovery of a companion who ap- 
peared to have lost sight of the runaway and 
its consequences, cheered by fellowship, and 
with the magic of the bracing air and the sun- 
shine to set his blood coursing swiftly, set out 
at a pace which soon left Varley floundering 
far in the rear. Observing this, Sam halted 
for the other to overtake him, and went on 
more sedately, pausing now and then to give 
Varley a helpful hint. The city boy was an 
apt pupil. He learned quickly, but it was clear 
that his strength was not great. Sam, who was 
an observant fellow, slackened pace still more. 

With such a day, though, neither of the pair 
was likely to consider very seriously the dis- 
tance covered. They went on and on, some- 
times tramping over the unbroken snow be- 
side the road, sometimes making detours 
across promising fields. Once or twice they 
invaded wooded tracts, but roots and branches 
proved too big a tax on Varley’s skill, and 
they promptly made for the open. They were 
in high spirits, the novice’s occasional tumbles 
seeming to be as entertaining to him as to his 
instructor. 


SNOW-SHOES 


8i 


At last, as they halted on the top of a small 
hill, a sound came to their ears, a far-off sound, 
not loud but distinct, and often repeated. 

“ What’s that ? ” Varley asked curiously. 

Guess I ” said Sam. 

The other listened intently. There’s no 
stillness more wonderful than that of a calm 
day when the snow lies deep on the ground, 
and the earth seems to be dozing comfortably 
under its white coverlet. Tap, tap, tap I came 
the distant sounds, breaking the silence with 
almost the regularity of the beat of a pen- 
dulum. 

I — I can’t imagine what makes those 
sounds, but they’re — well, they’re clear-cut — 
if you can call it that.” 

“ You’re guessing better than you knew,” 
quoth Sam. Wood-chopper over in the woods 
yonder.” 

“ You mean a lumberman ? ” 

More likely some farm-hand getting out 
fire-wood.” 

I’ve never seen a tree cut down — a big 
tree, that is.” 

Sam laughed. “ Well, that chap probably 
isn’t leveling any forest monarch, but if you’d 


82 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


like to see him work, there^s no reason why 
you shouldn't. Come ahead 1 ” 

OflE* they set again, Sam leading. They 
crossed a valley at the foot of the hill, 
mounted a gradual slope on the farther side, 
climbed an old stone wall, and found them- 
selves in a wood lot, fairly free of under- 
growth. The sounds of the axe were much 
louder now. Sam, pointing, gave a shout. 

See that treetop sway ? We’ll be in time 
to see it come down ! ” 

They hurried forward. That is, Sam hurried 
and made progress. Varley, also making haste, 
caught a snow-shoe on a hidden obstruction, 
and took a magnificent header into a drift. 
He was struggling up in a second, powdered 
with snow from head to foot, with snow up 
his sleeves and down his neck, but grinning 
cheerily in spite of his mishap. 

Sam, glancing back, shouted again. Varley 
took a step forward. Then suddenly he cried 
out, sharply, warningly. 

The tree was no longer swaying back and 
forth. Instead, the tall trunk was falling like 
a great beam swinging on a pivot at its base. 
Its limbs tore through the boughs of its 


SNOW-SHOES 


83 

smaller neighbors, but above the noise of 
cracking and breaking wood rose a voice, 
shrill with alarm. 

It was all over with startling swiftness. 
Here was a case in which fractions of a second 
counted. The woodsman, stepping back when 
his final blow with the axe had been delivered, 
had heard Sam^s shout. For an instant his 
attention had been distracted; and in that 
fateful instant the course of the falling tree 
was diverted from its original direction. 
When the man became aware of his peril, 
the trunk was descending straight upon him. 
He tried to spring aside, but it was too late to 
escape. He was caught, hurled to the ground, 
and held there, with the tree trunk fairly 
across his body. 

Varley had had just a glimpse of what was 
occurring. It was because of this that he had 
cried out, instinctively trying to give warning, 
though he hardly realized the full danger to 
the man, of whom he first caught sight just 
before the tree struck him. 

Sam, who had not perceived how near they 
were to the chopper until Varley gave* him a 
hint, needed but a glance to understand the 


84 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

sort of accident which had befallen. He 
dashed to the side of the prostrate workman, 
caught his arm, and tried to drag him from 
beneath the tree. The effort was in vain. 
The man groaned feebly, and opened his 
eyes. 

Varley, quivering with excitement, came 
up, and tugged uselessly at the tree trunk. 

“ Can’t we lift this ? Tell me what to do — 
anything I I can’t stir it — it must weigh 
tons I ” he exclaimed. 

Sam was doing his best to think fast and 
clearly. The chopper, a big, powerful fellow 
though he was, could do nothing to help him- 
self. Even had he suffered no injury he was 
so pinned down that he was held as if he 
were trapped. But for the deep cushion of 
snow he must have been terribly crushed ; 
and even this had not served to save him 
from hurts which the boy believed to be 
serious enough. 

The man spoke faintly, brokenly : Get — 
get somebody I Over on the road — there’ll 
be somebody drivin’ along.” 

Sam bent over him. ‘‘ Where’s the nearest 
house?” 


SNOW-SHOES 85 

“ Too — too far. And only the women folks 
to home. Try the — the road I ” 

Where are you hurt — worst 
The man made a feeble attempt to raise his 
head. With an effort he suppressed a moan. 
Big drops of sweat were showing on his fore- 
head. 

Ribs — two-three cracked or — or caved in. 
Hur — hurry, can’t ye ? ” 

Varley caught Sam’s sleeve. “ I’ll go I 
Best thing to do. I’m no good here, and you 
may be. All right? ” 

Sam nodded. He did not see what service 
he could render by remaining; yet he was 
unwilling to desert the sufferer, and Varley 
could do as much as he could in summoning 
passers-by to the rescue. 

Beat it, then ! ” he said crisply. 

Varley set off at the best pace he could 
make ; and while Sam was studying the prob- 
lem of first aid under difficulties, his new 
comrade was racing across the fields. Breath- 
less from his exertions, he reached the high- 
way just as two youths on snow-shoes came 
into sight around a bend. Varley recognized 
them as Poke and Step. They were not the 


86 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


aids he would have chosen in such an emer- 
gency, but this was not a time for delay. 

Step hailed him with amazement. “ Hullol 
What are you doing off here by your lone- 
some ? Lost, are you ? 

Come — come along 1 Varley panted. 
** Both — both of you 1 Man hurt — over in 
the woods I 

But what are you ? ” 

Varley didn’t let Step finish the question. 

Hustle ! It’s a — a bad job. Parker sent 


** What I Sam Parker hurt? 

Varley wrung his hands in impatience. 

No, no I Tree fell on a fellow. Parker 
stayed with him, and sent me for help.” 

Step looked vastly relieved. “ Oh, that’s 
it, eh ? And Sam’s all right? And he’s stay- 
ing with the other chap? Well, he knows 
what to do, if anybody knows.” 

So speaking, Step swung one of his long 
legs over the low wall, and followed it with 
the other. 

“ Poke and I are just out for a breather — 
great going, eh ? But if you’re after hustle, 
I’m your man. So’s Poke. Come along I ” 


SNOW-SHOES 87 

Varley turned, and headed for the woods, 
the others keeping close beside him. 

If you've got wind enough, tell us just 
what happened," Step suggested. 

Varley did his best to comply. It is to be 
feared, though, that his story was not very 
coherent. Indeed, he had given his compan- 
ions little more than an outline of the story 
when they reached the timber. 

Sam had not been idle. He had scraped 
away a good deal of the snow about the in- 
jured man, and having found a stout pole, 
was experimenting with it as a lever, though 
he had not succeeded in raising the tree trunk 
by an inch. 

The victim of the accident was groaning 
faintly ; but he pluckily gritted his teeth, 
when Step and Poke sprang to the lever, and 
hoisted with all their strength. Then Varley 
added his efforts. The tree rose very, very 
slowly. 

Try to hold her where she is ! " Sam told 
his comrades. 

Bending down, he caught the man by the 
shoulders, and with all possible care drew him 
from beneath the huge, imprisoning bar. The 


88 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


sufferer’s face was contorted with pain, but his 
grit didn’t fail him. 

Goo — good work, boys I ” he gasped. 

The three at the lever loosened their hold, 
and the tree settled back to its bed in the 
snow. Varley tore off his gay mackinaw. 
He was about to put it under the man’s head 
when Sam stopped him. 

Hold on I You’ve given me a hint. We 
ought to get him out of here and under shel- 
ter. And we need a stretcher. . . . Don’t 
roll up that jacket. Button it, though, and 
see that the sleeves are clear.” 

Varley obeyed, wonderingly, while Sam 
stripped off his own overcoat. 

** Get a couple of poles — good, straight 
ones 1 ” he said curtly to Step and Poke. 

The former had a big knife ; the latter 
caught up the woodsman’s axe. In a mo- 
ment each had cut a promising sapling and 
was lopping away the leafless branches. 

Sam slipped an end of one of the poles in- 
side Varley’s coat, and through the right 
sleeve. Then he repeated the operation with 
the other pole, this time, however, making 
use of the left sleeve. A moment more, and 


SNOW-SHOES 


89 

he had similarly disposed of his own overcoat 
at the other end of the poles, and was draw- 
ing the two garments close together. Thus 
he had an extemporized stretcher, with the 
coats as cover and the saplings as supports. 
It was not a handsome contrivance, but looked 
serviceable. The heavy outer jackets were of 
stout cloth, and the sleeves would prevent the 
poles from working loose. 

And now came a difficult task — the placing 
of the sufferer on the stretcher. In this all 
the boys joined, doing their work as gently as 
they could. The woodsman did his best to 
help, but in spite of his pluck a deep groan 
burst from his lips, and his face was ashen 
when at last he lay upon the coats. 

At a nod from Sam the boys laid hold of 
the poles, Sam himself and Step at the man^s 
head, and Poke and Varley at his feet. 

Easy, everybody ! was the leader^s cau- 
tion, but it was hardly necessary. With all 
imaginable care the stretcher was raised, and 
the bearers began their slow march. Luckily, 
the hardest part of it was soon over. Once 
they were out of the woods and in the open 
fields progress was easier, especially for Var- 


90 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

ley, who was still far from master of his snow- 
shoes. 

Sam had learned where the man lived, and 
directed their course toward the house, which 
was perhaps a quarter-mile from the scene of 
the accident. Before reaching it they came to 
the road, and had to solve a problem in scal- 
ing the wall with their burden. This they 
accomplished safely, though not without much 
trouble ; but, as if in speedy reward, they then 
experienced an unexpected bit of good for- 
tune. 

A white horse came trotting along the 
beaten track, drawing a sleigh in which rode 
a gray old man, muffled in a huge fur coat. 
At sight of the party the old man pulled up. 

Dr. Emery I cried Poke and Step joy- 
fully. 

The doctor sprang from the sleigh. He 
needed no explanation of what had happened. 
He made hasty examination of the woods- 
man ; glanced at the extemporized stretcher ; 
grunted. 

“ Huh I Good idea, that I Rough and 
ready, but it answers. And you're bringing 
him in ? Right 1 " 


SNOW-SHOES 


91 

The injured man forced the wanest and 
faintest of smiles. 

“ Say, Doc I he whispered. Them — 

them boys — they — they've got gumption I " 

The doctor nodded briskly, and began to 
climb into his sleigh. 

“ It's only a little way to the house — 
'twouldn't pay to try to load him in here. 
I'll go ahead, and have things ready to take 
care of him. Get him to the door, and there 
I'll take him off your hands." 

Step tightened his grip on the stretcher 
pole. He looked to Sam for orders. 

Give us the word, Sam," he said. You're 
captain of this team." 

Sam felt his pulse quicken. Circumstances 
had done for him what he would have been 
puzzled to do for himself. Once more he and 
his chums of the club were on the good old 
terms of fellowship. 


CHAPTER VI 


A LITTLE LUNCH 

** Well I I’m mighty glad that’s over. 
But now what are we going to do ? ” 

It was Step who spoke thus, addressing 
Poke and Sam and Varley, as they stood 
grouped in the road before the house in 
which they had left the injured man. Nearly 
an hour had passed since they brought him 
home on the extemporized stretcher, and it 
had been a busy hour at that. Dr. Emery 
had not hesitated to press the boys into serv- 
ice. They had gone on errands to neighbors’ 
houses ; they had assisted in the transfer of 
the victim of the accident from the stretcher 
to his bed ; they had brought in a supply of 
fire-wood for the woman of the house ; Poke 
had driven away in the doctor’s sleigh and 
returned with a nurse of much experience in 
caring for the sick of the countryside. At 
last, though, all that could be done had been 
92 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


93 

done. The doctor had resumed his inter- 
rupted round ; the nurse of experience had 
taken charge of the distracted household ; the 
sufferer was resting as comfortably as one 
might hope to rest with fractured ribs and 
bruised body and limbs. 

Boys, you’ve behaved like trumps,’^ had 
been Dr. Emery’s parting words. “ It has 
been a good morning’s work for all of you. 
Guess I’ll have to enroll you as my first-aid 
detachment.” 

With that he clucked to his horse, and 
rode off, leaving the four in the road. There 
followed a long silence, which Step ended. 
The boys looked at each other. Step had 
uttered the thought of all of them. What 
were they to do next ? 

The strain and the excitement were over. 
Not one of them but felt the reaction. Varley 
gave a queer little laugh. 

Fellows, this sort of thing’s all new to 
me. I — well, it’s taken all the ginger out 
of me. I feel like a — a ” 

“ Like a rag? ” Sam suggested. 

Varley nodded. That’s it I Like a rag, 
and a wet rag, to boot.” 


94 the SAFETr FIRST CLUB 

Poke wagged his head solemnly. I 
know I Been there myself. Sort of gets 

you here ” and he laid a hand on 

his stomach. 

ThaPs just it I It isn’t exactly as if you 
were hungry, but like it, somehow.” 

Sam, the practical, pulled out his watch, 
and whistled softly. 

Whew 1 No wonder you chaps feel that 
way. It’s twenty minutes to twelve.” 

“ And dinner’s six or seven miles away ! ” 
gasped Poke. 

Nearer eight.” 

This time Poke didn’t gasp ; he groaned. 
“I see where somebody I know gets mighty 
unpopular at our house. Confound fussy 
folks, anyway I ” 

“ Same thing at our place,” quoth Step and 
drew a long face. If a fellow’s late for a 
meal they act as if they thought he ought to 
be in jail.” 

“ Well, it’s up to us to make tracks,” said 
Sam, then cast a half dubious glance at 
Varley ; a hurried march back to town would 
be no joke for the novice on snow-shoes. 

Varley noted the glance, and read it aright. 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


95 

** Wait a minute, fellows, he said. “ I’ll own 
up. I’m almost all in. No, I don’t mean I’m 
leg-weary exactly ; it’s more wear and tear on 
nerves, I guess. If I could have a bite to eat 
and a chance to sit down by a fire for a while, 
I’d be all right.” 

“ Huh I I guess that’s what Jonah said 
when he found himself inside the whale ! ” 
jeered Step. 

Sam spoke quickly. Varley’s hit it I I 
feel the same way, only I didn’t know enough 
to say so. I don’t hanker for that tramp 
home, but what else is there to do?” 

‘^Nothing,” agreed Poke gloomily. *^We 
might as well start.” 

But again Varley delayed them. Hold 
on I Parker, you told me about a hotel at 
the foot of Rainbow Mountain, didn’t you ? 
Unless I’m all wrong in my geography, we 
must have been traveling toward it, and it 
can’t be very far away.” 

Not more than a mile,” said Sam. 

The other’s face brightened. Then I’ve a 
scheme. Let’s go there and get something to 
eat.” 

'' Oh I ” said Sam doubtfully. 


96 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Step shook his head, and Poke slapped a 
pocket, from which came no cheering jingling 
of coin. 

'' My treat, of course I ’’ cried Varley hastily. 

I guess weM better not — thank you, of 
course, though. 

That was Sam’s instinctive observation. 
Step shook his head harder than ever. Poke 
rubbed his chin uncertainly ; at that moment 
he was conscious of a peculiarly vigorous 
appetite. 

Varley seemed to know how to meet the 
objections of the others. 

“ Oh, come now ! ” said he persuasively. 
** You fellows have been doing things for 
me, and helping me out with these contrap- 
tions ” he glanced at his snow-shoes. 

“ You’ve given me a lot of pointers. Give 
me a show to even up part of it. Parker 
tells me the hotel is open. We’ll go there 
and get a little lunch, and loaf around for a 
while, and start for town when we feel like it. 
It’s the one sensible thing to do. Why not? ” 

None of the others found it easy to explain 
why it was not the sensible thing. And Var- 
ley’s careless reference to the proposed refresh- 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


97 

ment as a ** little lunch certainly did seem 
to throw new light on the case and remove 
in some degree the sense of incurring undue 
obligation. 

» Why — why — I don’t know— that is, I 
don’t see ” Poke began. 

'Twould be fun,” Step admitted. 

“ Certainly it will — come along I ” Varley 
urged. 

Sam hesitated. The case was of a sort to 
perplex an older and wiser head than his. 
On the one hand was reluctance to accept 
hospitality he might not be able to return ; 
on the other \^as dread of appearing boorishly 
unresponsive. His pocket money chanced to 
be low ; and he was quite sure Step and Poke 
were in the same plight. So it couldn’t very 
well be a “ Dutch treat.” And pride revolted 
a bit — town pride, perhaps — at being at a 
disadvantage, compared with the city youth. 
But Sam was hungry. Poke was hungry, too, 
and so was Step. 

Varley tugged at Sam’s sleeve. “ Let’s trot 
along 1 ” he urged. “ Just a little lunch, you 
know. Make us feel like fighting cocks, it 
will. And I don’t mind telling you I need 


98 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

something like grub to take away that gone- 
ness/^ 

It was the repetition of the little lunch 
which turned the scales with Sam. Rather 
vaguely he pictured light refreshment — sand- 
wiches, maybe, and a boiled egg or two — to 
be enjoyed picnic fashion. 

“ All right, I’m with you, Varley — and 
much obliged,” he said. Do as much for 
you some day. And Fd be glad to have a 
look at the Rainbow Mountain House. They 
say it’s a very good hotel.” 

“ Well, we’ll find out how good it is I ” cried 
Varley jubilantly. “ Come ahead I ” 

It was a generous mile that lay between the 
boys and the hotel, but with the spur of hun- 
ger and the equally encouraging sense of mild 
adventure, they covered the distance briskly 
enough. On the road Varley was a humble 
follower of his companions, but when they 
entered the big lobby of the hostelry, he took 
command of the expedition. 

The others hesitated briefly, glancing about 
them at the great fire blazing cheerily, at the 
many easy chairs, at the tables on which were 
ranged newspapers and magazines, at the deer 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


99 

heads on the wall, at the half dozen guests 
who were in evidence, some of them in the 
fur coats in which they had just returned 
from a long drive in sleighs. But Varley 
unconcernedly crossed to the desk, and ad- 
dressed the clerk on duty. 

“ Lunch for four,’’ he said. And we’d 
like it at once, if we can have it.” 

The clerk pushed forward the big register, 
and offered Varley a pen. 

‘‘ Certainly,” said he. Luncheon is served 
in the main dining-room.” 

Varley entered the names of the party in 
the book — he had to ask Step and Poke’s 
initials, but he wrote Samuel Parker ” with- 
out hesitation. Then he stepped back, smiling 
cheerily. 

We’ll freshen up a bit, and then go right 
in,” said he. 

Both Sam and Step had been studying the 
lobby and the people, but Poke was staring, 
in a sort of fascination, at a tall vase at an end 
of the desk. It was slender and graceful of 
line, and was made of a prismatic glass, which 
caught the light and reflected it in many- 
hued brilliance. 


loo THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Golly 1 Look at the sparkle I ” he ex- 
claimed. 

That^s our mascot — our luck piece/^ the 
clerk explained. '‘Odd thing, isn't it? 
You're quite right about the sparkle — regular 
rainbow effect, in fact. That's why it fits the 
Rainbow Mountain House, you see." 

Poke wagged his head in his solemn 
fashion. “ I do see it. And it is — er — er — it 
is mighty — er — er — appropriate." 

But Varley was tugging at his sleeve. 
“ Oh, come along 1 A plate with a lot on it 
would look still more appropriate." 

Poke yielded to the pull. “ There's room 
for more than one good thing in the world at 
a time," he remarked philosophically. “ Pll 
be glad enough to eat, but that — that sparkler 
— say, somehow it takes my fancy a lot." 

“Well, you can sit down after lunch and 
admire it," Varley reminded him. “ Just 
now your first duty to yourself is to play an 
engagement in the dining-room." 

The Rainbow Mountain House was a very 
comfortable, well-managed hotel, whose land- 
lord had a theory that people liked good 
things to eat. His winter guests especially 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


lOI 


were likely to be blessed with vigorous ap- 
petites, and he took especial pains not to dis- 
appoint them. So, while the midday meal 
was known as luncheon, it was, in fact, a 
substantial repast, daintily served in the big, 
sunny dining-room. Sam's first glimpse of 
the bill of fare made him glance swiftly, and 
suspiciously, at Varley. A little lunch, for- 
sooth I Why, this was a dinner of half a 
dozen courses. But Varley met the glance 
blandly and with no recognition, apparently, 
of the fact that it was suspicious. He was 
entirely at his ease in presiding over the table 
to which the boys had been conducted ; and 
what was more, he put his guests at their 
ease. 

Truth to tell, the four had an excellent 
time. All of them had been at still larger 
and more pretentious hotels than the Rain- 
bow Mountain House, but always in company 
with their elders; and this little party had 
the agreeable tang of novelty and independ- 
ence. Varley kept the talk going briskly. 
He told a story or two of his misadventures at 
boarding-school. He added another of an 
odd experience while traveling in Europe, 


102 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


but gave no hint of regarding himself as a 
person of superior talents or attainments; for 
quite as cheerfully he related some of the 
amusing blunders into which he had been led 
by ignorance of the ways of the country. 
Then the other boys recalled tales to cap his, 
so that, altogether, it was a very merry group 
about the table. 

Finally the meal was over, and Varley 
tipped the waitress with a practiced ease 
which vastly impressed the observant Poke. 
The four went out into the lobby, and found 
chairs near the great fire. They were filled 
with the comforting sense of ease and refresh- 
ment, and nobody was disposed to suggest an 
early start on the long tramp to town. It was 
much better fun to toast before the fire and 
watch the people come straggling in, some 
from snow-shoe expeditions, others from 
coasting. There was a pleasant murmur of 
talk, with a deal of rippling laughter and a 
subdued bustle, very restful and soothing to 
the well-fed listener. 

Varley sauntered over to the desk. There 
he paid the bill. The other boys saw him 
draw a roll of notes from his pocket, pass one 


A LITTLE LUNCH 


103 

to the clerk, and stow away his change with 
barely a glance at the silver. 

‘‘ Gee I but he’s well heeled ! Poke whis- 
pered to Sam, admiringly. 

Sam nodded, but said nothing. It was 
clear that Varley was well supplied with 
spending money ; but he was not moved to 
comment on the fact. 

Say I He knows how to do things up 
brown ! ” Poke insisted. 

Indeed he does I ” Sam agreed heartily 
enough. 

Poke stretched himself luxuriously. This 
is one bully place I I like everything about 
it. Cracking good feed, wasn’t it ? And that 

shiny vase over there Say, somehow I 

can’t keep my eyes off it I ” 

It is pretty.” 

“ Pretty I ” Poke’s tone was protesting. 

That’s a mild way to put it. I could sit 
and look at it for an hour at a time.” 

Sam made no reply. He was watching 
Varley, who was talking to the clerk, but 
who finally wheeled, and returned to his com- 
panions, smiling a trifle uncertainly. 

I hope you won’t think I’m too much of a 


104 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

quitter/^ he said, but I may as well own up. 
I don’t fancy that hike back. So I’ve made a 
deal with that fellow to send us home in a 
sleigh. We can start whenever we’re ready. 
And — and I hope you won’t mind.” 

It was on the tip of Sam’s tongue to make 
protest, but Step spoke first. 

^‘Mind? Not II I’m not too proud to 
ride — not by a long shot.” 

‘‘ Good I Then we’ll consider that settled,” 
said Varley quickly. 

Poke shot a glance at Sam. What did I 
tell you about doing things up brown ? ” he 
queried with a chuckle. 

Again Sam said nothing. As it happened, 
it did not occur to him that he needed to say 
anything. 


CHAPTER VII 


THE SHARK LECTURES 

The Shark was out of humor. He sat in 
a corner of the club-room, glowering through 
his spectacles at his fellow members, and quite 
ignoring the chess-board on the table beside 
him. 

Now, though the Shark had a brusque man- 
ner and was often curt in speech, he really 
was a fellow of even disposition, and seldom 
became involved in disputes. One reason for 
this, perhaps, was the circumstance, observed 
by the philosophical Poke and by him com- 
municated to the rest of the club, that “ it was 
surprising how many things didn’t make any 
difference to the Shark.” Athletic rivalries 
did not excite him ; school competitions, ex- 
cept in his specialty of mathematics, ordinarily 
had no interest for him; unless forced to do so, 
he gave no heed to school politics. The other 
members of the club might be in a fine state 
105 


io6 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


of mind over any of a dozen questions without 
stirring the Shark perceptibly. So it was all 
the more curious that this day, when his 
friends appeared to be getting along in har- 
mony, the Shark was having a fit of the sulks 
or the blues. He had been working over a 
chess problem — working and growling, it must 
be confessed — and having failed to reach its 
solution, had pushed back the board and was 
regarding the others darkly and with hos- 
tility. 

The club was in full session. Everybody 
was there, with Sam Parker fully restored to 
his old position of influence. A fortnight had 
passed since the rescue of the injured woods- 
man and Varley’s little lunch, two incidents 
which had restored Sam’s relations with Step 
and Poke and made easy his return to the 
fellowship of the club. There it was under- 
stood that Parker didn’t like to be joked about 
runaway horses or mince pies, and these topics 
being placed under taboo, things were going 
much as they had gone in the days before 
Mrs. Grant’s horse chose to bolt and before 
Varley came upon the scene. 

Sam enjoyed the renewed companionship. 


THE SHARK LECTURES 107 

It had needed a brief denial of it to realize 
what it meant to him. So he had been as 
little disposed to take offense as the others 
had been to give it; and there had been 
hardly a ripple of bickering anywhere until 
the Shark, of a sudden, developed a case of 
nerves and a yearning for squabbles. 

“ You're the most useless crowd I " he grum- 
bled. “ Why don't you do something ? Why 
don't* you get a move on? You’re loafing on 
the job, every one of you I " 

There was a long silence after this outburst, 
which took the others completely by surprise. 
Finally Sam spoke. 

Well, what do you want to have us do?" 

Oh, anything I " 

'‘But what is there to do?" Step inquired. 

“ What is there to do ? " the Shark echoed 
scornfully. He sprang from his chair and 
came forward. “ Look here, all of you I You 
make me tired I Why, right in this room a 
while ago I heard Step going on about this 
being the meanest, slowest, stupidest part of 
the year." 

“ So it is," Step insisted. 

“ That's what you said. There's no skating, 


io8 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

and the snow-shoeing and sleighing and coast- 
ing are not worth having — wasn’t that your 
argument? ” 

** I’m sticking to it still.” 

Bosh I ” 

Then Poke took a hand. Tell you what 
it is, Shark,” said he. “ Winter’s all right, in 
its way ; but you can get too much of a good 
thing. It gets monotonous — leave it to you 
if it doesn’t.” 

The Shark declined to commit himself. 

This gang is getting lazy. All it seems to 
care for is to sit around and tell stories. 
You’re as good for nothing as a lot of wood- 
chucks stowed away in a hole till spring 
comes.” 

“ Well, the woodchuck knows his business,” 
quoth Step. 

It’s mighty poor business, all the same, 
for a pack of human beings.” 

Trojan Walker laughed softly. Ha, ha I 
If you’d like my opinion. Shark, getting mad 
with the world because you can’t work out a 
chess problem is worse business still.” 

The Shark whipped about to face him. 
** Can’t work it out, can’t I ? Huh I Much 


THE SHARK LECTURES 109 

you know about it I I’ll show you now — no 
I won’t, either ; you wouldn’t understand.” 

“ And you would ? And that’s what makes 
you so pleasant to all of us ? ” 

Who wants to be pleasant to a crowd that 
just sits around and talks about a city fellow 
who happens to have more money than he 
knows what to do with ? ” 

‘‘ What I You mean Varley ? ” 

Course I do I ” 

There was another pause before anybody 
made answer to the charge. Two or three of 
the boys glanced inquiringly at Sam, as if 
they felt that here was a matter concerning 
which it behooved him to speak. So Sam it 
was who broke the silence. 

Shark, what ails you, anyway ? Varley’s 
all right.” 

“ Huh I So’s his money and the big 
dinners it buys I ” 

What’s that?” 

^*You heard well enough. You and Step 
and Poke haven’t been talking about any- 
thing for a week but that feed he gave you.” 

Step’s long arm shot out. He shook a 
finger under the Shark’s nose. 


no THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


You mean we’re toadying to him because 
he treated us to lunch? Say that, straight 
out, and I’ll smash you 1 ” 

The Shark was a head shorter than the tall 
Step, but he was in no mood to shrink from 
controversy, vocal or physical. He bristled 
belligerently. 

You don’t dare do it I And you can’t 
put words in my mouth 1 ” 

Take it back then I ” 

I’ll take nothing back — that I’ve said.” 

A little voice seemed to whisper in Sam’s 
ear that the Safety First Club was hardly 
living up to its name. He caught Step’s 
wrist, and drew the tall youth back. Then 
he addressed the still bristling Shark. 

“ I don’t like what you’ve said any better 
than Step likes it. But I don’t intend to let 
anybody get into a fight over it. It was a 
bully good dinner we had, and I’m not 
ashamed to say it was. You wouldn’t have 
me lie about it, would you ? ” 

“ N-no,” the Shark admitted. 

And you wouldn’t expect me to pretend I 
was ashamed of accepting Varley’s invita- 
tion ? ” 


THE SHARK LECTURES iii 


** Why — why, noT 

“ And I haven’t hinted you were sore be- 
cause you weren’t lucky enough to be there.” 

The Shark reddened to the roots of his hair. 
^‘Anybody who says that ” he began hotly. 

I haven’t said it,” Sam interposed 
promptly. Why haven’t I ? Because I 
know, and every other fellow here knows, it 
isn’t true.” 

Oh I ” said the Shark, with a queer little 
gasp, and a perceptible lessening of ferocity. 

Sam pressed his advantage. “Be sensible, 
can’t you? I like Varley ; so do most of the 
others. For some reason you don’t. That’s 
no excuse, though, for a general row. Varley 

isn’t thrusting himself in here or ” 

“ Huh I That’s just what he did do in the 
beginning.” 

“ Well, that was because he didn’t under- 
stand the custom about outsiders. But he 
was clever enough to guess visitors weren’t 
the usual thing. You’ll notice he hasn’t 
come here again.” 

“ Huh ! Good reason ! ” 

“ What do you mean ? ” 

“ I told him not to,” said the Shark grimly. 


1 12 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Sam stared at the spectacled youth. “ You 
— you said that — to his face ? ” 

“ Sure I said the Shark doggedly. When? 
Oh, three-four days ago. Where? On the 
street, where we’d met, and where he’d 
stopped me, and begun to hint about what a 
smooth joint we had here, and how he’d like 
to look in occasionally. Then I told him it 
was a closed club. Why shouldn’t I tell him ? 
Fact, isn’t it? ” 

“ Yes. Only with a fellow from out of 

town, a stranger ” 

The Shark interrupted Sam. Look here ! 
I don’t pretend to fancy Varley overmuch, 
but there I was treating him just as I’d treat 
the best friend I have. I let him have the 
truth. It’ll save him a lot of embarrassment. 
Besides, he isn’t what you’d call a stranger 
any more. He’s staying in town right along, 
and he’s going to school — no use trying to 
put him off in a class by himself.” 

Sam frowned, but Poke spoke sharply. 

Hang it. Shark, but you have messed 
things I And after that cracking good din- 
ner he treated us to — geeminy, but I wish I 
knew how we could even up things for that I ” 


THE SHARK LECTURES 113 

** All right — go ahead and even them all 
you please/' growled the Shark ; then his tone 
changed. “ See here, you fellows ! You've 
got me started, and I'm going to free my 
mind. I don't like the way you're behaving. 
You're quitting on the job, the bunch of 
you I " 

“ Bully boy. Shark ! Go it 1 " jeered the 
Trojan. 

I will I Listen I There isn't one of you 
that's stirred a finger to win that history essay 
prize. You mope around, and wail about the 
weather and the snow and nothing to do, and 
don't even dream of trying to land that hun- 
dred dollars. Can you deny that, Trojan? 
Or you, Sam? Or you. Poke? Or Herman, 
or Step or Tom Orkney?" He was shaking 
an accusing hand at each of them in turn. 

All of you heard what the principal said. 
Now hear what I say : It's a shame and dis- 
grace to the club that you're letting this 
chance go by default." 

“ How about yourself? " Step demanded. 

“ I'm out of it. My line's different. I can 
do things with figures, but not with words. 
Two or three of you fellows write decently. 


1 14 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Why don’t you pull together — it’s allowable, 
under the rules — and gather in that hun- 
dred?” 

Nobody took upon himself the responsi- 
bility of making reply. 

The Shark glanced from one to another. 
His manner was still grim. 

‘‘ That’s right — think it over I ” said he. 

Let it sink in. And don’t forget the rest of 
the class is watching the club. I’ve had a 
couple of nasty raps handed me about a gang 
that put on a lot of side, yet didn’t have sand 
enough to make good at anything requiring 
real work.” 

‘‘ Who said that? ” asked Sam. 

Never mind I It was said — said to me.” 

“ I’ve heard something of the sort,” said 
Tom Orkney quietly. 

Two or three of the others stirred uneasily ; 
it was to be inferred that they, too, had been 
reminded of the club’s inactivity. 

The Shark picked up his cap. 

Well, I feel better,” quoth he. ** I’ve got 
the thing off my chest. I’ve got to cut along 
now, but you fellows can mull over what I’ve 
told you. The lecture’s over ; but it’s up to 


THE SHARK LECTURES 1 1 5 

you to show whether or not it's going to do 
any good." 

With that he walked out of the room, leav- 
ing a group whose members seemed to be of 
diverse opinions about his views. Step de- 
clared that it was hopeless to attempt to win 
the competition ; Herman and the Trojan were 
uncertain ; Orkney inclined to the idea that 
the attempt would be worth making. 

Poke, his face puckered and his air a bit 
mysterious, drew Sam aside. 

Look here I The Shark has sure chucked 
the fat in the fire I " he whispered. Say, 
we’ve got to do something I " 

“ Umph I I don’t believe the bunch of us 
can do much,’’ Sam objected. 

I’m not talking about the prize. ** It’s 
Varley I’m worrying about. Don’t you see, 
after the crack the Shark made to him, we’ve 
just got to wipe out the obligation for that 
dinner ? ’’ 

“ I wish we could ! Only I don’t see 
how ’’ 

Poke broke in, his manner more mysterious 
than ever. Hold your horses, Sam I You 
watch me I No ; I can’t lisp a word, but 


ii6 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


maybe — well, there^s a chance your little old 
uncle will be able to square accounts and put 
us all on Easy Street, Shark or no Shark. 
How ? Can’t breathe a syllable about it — 
now. Just watch and wait — that’s all you’ll 
have to do, Sam I ” 


CHAPTER VIII 


poke’s mystery 

Ordinarily, Sam might have thought little 
of Poke’s mysterious hint, for Poke’s fancy 
was lively at times, but the bearing of that 
well-fed youth continued to suggest conscious- 
ness of a great secret. Now and then he 
winked craftily at Sam, or wagged his head 
portentously, or shook with glee at thoughts 
he was not ready to confide to his friends. 
Observing which things, Sam meditated and 
wondered, and gained no clew to the mystery. 

Sam, though, had plenty of other interests 
to claim his attention. The Shark, after his 
outburst at the club, had resumed his man- 
ner of indifference. He neither repeated his 
criticisms of his mates nor displayed dislike 
for Varley, but went his own way in his old 
fashion. It was evident, however, that what 
he had said about the club and the prize 
essay had not fallen on wholly deaf ears. 
Herman Boyd and the Trojan came to Sam to 
117 


ii8 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 


inquire if he really believed there would be a 
chance to carry off the honor, and Tom Ork- 
ney put the same question still more earnestly. 

It does seem as if we ought to have a try at 
it,'’ he said. The Shark was more than half 
right about the — the — well, about the * laying 
down ' business. And if you think there's a 
show for any of us, it looks as if the club 
should get busy." 

''Some of the other crowds talking?" Sam 
queried shrewdly. 

Orkney nodded. " I'd be likeliest to hear 
it — last fellow in the club, you know. So I'm 
told things that might not be said directly to 
the rest of you." 

" What sort of things ? " 

" Well, that the club flocks by itself, and 
puts on airs, but never amounts to much when 
it comes to a pinch ; that it never gathers in 
any prizes except the mathematical ones, and 
they're just the Shark's meat; that here's a 
big prize we won't get because no one in the 
crowd has the sand to make a fight for it." 

" Exactly I " said Sam. He was quite aware 
of the jealousies due to cliques in a school, and 
more than once had noted some very open 


POKERS MTSTERT 


119 

fishing for an invitation to join the Safety 
First Club. Also, when the angling had re- 
sulted in failure, there had been, generally, an 
increase in the unfavorable comment about 
the club by critics who didn't belong to it. 

Orkney coughed a little dubiously. Ahem, 
ahem I Of course, all that sort of thing is 
plain yapping, but, all the same, I'd like to see 
us getting into this game. If I could do any- 
thing to help — say, though, I'm no use when 
it comes to writing. But in digging for facts. 
I'll be ready to hold up my end. And facts 
are what are going to count. And there's 
nothing to prevent the crowd pulling together 
— the prize essay doesn't have to be one per- 
son's work. Why, two or three of the girls 
have teamed up, and make no bones about it. 
The principal told 'em it was allowable, es- 
pecially since the person who is putting up the 
hundred dollars really wants to get data on 
the town’s settlement and early history, and 
regards this plan as merely a way of securing 
assistance he is glad to pay for." 

Well, then, it’s my notion some of the girls 
will win," declared Sam. They're better 
pluggers — more persistent — than the fellows. 


120 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Besides, the composition will count for some- 
thing — can^t help counting — and that's where 
they'll do better work." 

“ Then you're against our going in ? " 

Sam protested. “ No ; I'm not. Only I 
don't think any of us would have a living 
chance. But if any of you fellows want to sail 
in, I'll wish you all the good luck there is. 
Still, short of finding the lost diary of Dominie 
Pike " 

''What's that?" Orkney interrupted. He 
was comparatively a newcomer, and still had 
many of the town's traditions to learn. 

" Dominie Pike was the first minister," Sam 
explained. " He came with the very earliest 
of the settlers — some people say he himself 
was the very first. He kept a diary, and put 
in it everything of interest that happened to 
himself or his neighbors, and all their dealings 
with the Indians " 

" Indians? " 

" Of course 1 There was quite a powerful 
tribe here. Dominie Pike was great friends 
with them, and there are lots of stories about 
that part of the town's history— trouble pre- 
vented by the Dominie, you know. No doubt 


POKES MTSTERT 


I2I 


they’re all in the diary, but nobody knows 
what happened to the diary. Folks have 
found many references to it in old letters, 
showing that people knew about it, and had 
read it, or parts of it, anyway. Then it seemed 
to disappear. The Historical Society has 
hunted for it high and low, but never has got 
a trace of it.” 

Orkney whistled softly. V My I But I wish 
we could come across it I It would just fill the 
bill.” 

“ It would,” said Sam drily, and left Orkney 
to meditate ways and means of accomplishing 
what so far the town had found to be impossi- 
ble in the matter of tracing the lost diary of 
the old minister. 

Their talk, however, had given Sam food 
for thought. It would be a fine thing for the 
club to score in the competition. But, also, 
it would be pleasing to find a way to square 
the account with Varley. Sam, casting about, 
hit upon a plan or two, which failed to work 
out satisfactorily. His mother listened will- 
ingly enough to hints that he would like to 
have a party, but showed an inclination to 
make it a general entertainment for the girls 


122 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


and boys of his acquaintance, which by no 
means met his approval. Sam’s notion of the 
proper thing was a small and strictly mascu- 
line gathering, at which Varley could be the 
guest of honor. 

Of Varley, as it happened, he was seeing very 
little. Paul was regularly attending school, 
but he was formally enrolled as a Senior, and 
thus seemed to gravitate naturally into associa- 
tion with the boys of the last year. When he 
encountered Sam or any of the other members 
of the Safety First Club, he appeared to be 
quite at ease and untroubled by any thought 
of the breach he had unwittingly made in their 
rules ; but Sam noticed — or thought he no- 
ticed — a disposition on Varley’s part not to 
seek his society, even if there was no effort to 
avoid it. He had no doubt that the Shark’s 
frankness had enlightened Varley about the 
club’s ban on uninvited guests ; and his re- 
spect grew for a fellow who could carry it 
off so well ” — as he phrased it — a situation 
which Sam himself found most embarrassing. 

Poke, meanwhile, was getting a deal of en- 
joyment out of his mysterious secret, which, 
at last, he seemed to have shared with his 


POKES MTSTERT 


123 

especial crony, Step ; for the latter, of a sud- 
den, became as excited as Poke himself The 
pair had conferences and conferences, with 
much chuckling and whispering and rib- 
nudging. And then, one day, both came to 
Sam to make an amazing announcement. 

Poke was in funds. Fortune had made 
him affluent. He proposed to bid his friends 
share his prosperity. Also he proposed to 
even the score with Paul Varley. 

Sam was practical. Where had the money 
come from ? 

Poke explained gleefully. An elderly and 
well-to-do aunt had made him a present of 
twenty-five dollars. By certain miracles of 
good behavior he had won parental permis- 
sion to spend the windfall as he pleased. 

“ Now ril tell you what Pm going to do,^^ 
Poke went on. Fm going to take the whole 
club and Varley out to the Rainbow Moun- 
tain House, and give 'em a bang-up good 
dinner. We’ll make it a hike out and back, 
with the feed in between. Great notion, eh ? " 

“ Let's see your cash ! " said Sam bluntly. 

Poke produced a roll of bills with a flourish. 

There I Count 'em if you want to." 


124 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Sam took advantage of the permission. 

Well, it^s twenty-five, all right,’’ he ad- 
mitted, as he returned the bills. 

Sure it is I And twenty’ll pay for the 
dinners for the crowd. Oh, I’ve found out. 
I’ve been doing a lot of telephoning out to 
the hotel, and everything’s arranged for next 
Saturday.” 

** Invited Varley 3^et? ” 

** No ; I’m waiting to hear what you have 
to say.” 

Sam took thought. It — it’s a good deal 

for you to blow in. Poke.” 

Poke waved a lordly hand. Oh, easy 
come, easy go, Sam. Hang the expense I ” 

“ You’ve been talking about this? ” 

“ A lot — to Step. He thinks it’s a great 
idea.” 

Sam was not surprised by this information ; 
nor was he greatly impressed. “ I was think- 
ing of your folks.” 

They don’t mind. That part’s all right — 
honest ! ” 

Still Sam hesitated ; noting which. Poke 
went on, eagerly : 

Come now I You know how the thing 


POKES MTSTERT 


125 

is. We ought to do something for Varley 
and 

That’s so. Only all of us ought to chip 

in.” 

Nonsense I He did it alone, and I’m go- 
ing to do it alone. But it’ll count for the 
whole club. And we ought to get square 
with him, hadn’t we?” 

“ Y-yes.” 

“ Then let’s do it ! ” cried Poke trium- 
phantly. “I’ll ask Varley to-day. Better, 
hadn’t I ? ” he concluded, of a sudden, ques- 
tioning. 

There was a brief pause. Then said Sam, 
slowly and half-reluctantly : “ Why — why — 
yes, I guess so.” 

“ Then it’s as good as done I ” quoth Poke, 
and departed in search of the proposed guest 
of honor. 

The youthful code is usually simple but 
exacting. “ Pay your debts ” stands close to 
the head of its list of rules. Instinctively 
Sam doubted the success of Poke’s undertak- 
ing — things had a way of happening unex- 
pectedly to Poke. Still, he saw no sound 
reason for interfering with the plan to restore 


126 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

the balance between the Safety First Club and 
Paul Varley. He would have preferred him- 
self to be the host, but as that might not be, 
he yielded the place to his plump friend. 

Varley accepted the invitation. He would 
be delighted to go to Poke’s dinner, and he 
said so. 

The attendance of all the club’s members 
was taken for granted ; and all were promptly 
at the meeting-place on Saturday morning. 
The sun was shining, the air was fine and brac- 
ing, and the snow was in excellent condition. 
The party set out on the tramp in high spirits, 
taking a somewhat roundabout course to the 
hotel, but passing close to the house of the 
injured woodsman. There they halted briefly 
to make inquiry as to his condition, and were 
told that he was convalescing satisfactorily. 

They brought noble appetites to the feast, 
and even the doubtful Sam was forced to 
admit to himself that Poke had arranged 
matters very well, indeed. A private dining- 
room was set aside for the youthful visitors ; 
the quite ample bill of fare had been length- 
ened with especial attention to their tastes. 
Poke beamingly presided at the head of the 


POKERS MTSTERT 


127 

table, with Varley at his right and Sam at his 
left. Poke, in fact, was having the time of 
his life, and when the others called upon 
him for a speech, he made one willingly 
enough. 

“ Tell you, fellows, I'm awfully glad all of 
you could come," said he. “ Seemed to me 
it would be a bully idea to — er — er " — he 
paused, of a sudden reminded that one may 
not eulogize one's own hospitality — er — er — 
that is, we ought to do something to — er — er 
— to break the monotony. Stupidest part of 
the year, you know. Anything for a little 
variety. Of course, I might have done other 
things, but it struck me the crowd would like 
a square meal " 

Yes, we needed it I " the Trojan put in in 
a stage whisper. 

Poke reddened. “ Say, I didn't mean that, 
and you know it I All of you get plenty to 
eat ; so do I. Only we don't have the chance 
to eat together ; and I knew this was a crack- 
ing good place. So here we are I And I'd 
like to know if anybody has anything to say 
against it?" 

Not a word 1 " cried the Trojan. 


128 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ Go on, Poke I Herman Boyd en- 
couraged. 

Sure I Give the boy orator his head 1 
grinned Sam. 

“ You’ve got ’em going, Poke — don’t let 
up I ” “ Hit us again — we haven’t got any 

friends ! ” “ My, but isn’t he the silver- 

tongued spell-binder I ” There was a medley 
of shouts ; Poke shook his fist in mock defi- 
ance. 

I haven’t much more to say, and I’ll 
make short work of it. You fellows are all 
right, though you might know a lot more 
than you do. Oh, I’m the same way — I ad- 
mit it. But I know enough to stop when 
I’m through. So that’s why I’m going to say 
again that I’m glad you’re here, and sit down.” 

There was lusty clapping of hands. Then 
Varley rose, his glass in his hand. 

“ I propose,” he said, the very good health 
of Poke Green. Long may he wave I ” 

They drank the toast in sparkling spring 
water, and drank it with enthusiasm. Then 
there were other toasts to Varley, to Sam, to 
the rest of the party ; all to the general satis- 
faction and the especial delight of Poke. He 


POKES MTSTERT 


129 

was beaming more broadly than ever when 
they filed out of the dining-room and into 
the big lobby. There was just a bit of a 
swagger in his walk, as he strolled up to the 
desk, and pulled out his pocketbook. 

The clerk, catching the spirit of the occa- 
sion, made a little ceremony of making out 
the account and presenting Poke with the 
receipt. Also he expressed the hope that 
the dinner had been to the satisfaction of the 
guests. 

It was a corker I quoth Poke, and thrust 
his change into a pocket. Then, perhaps sus- 
pecting that he had displayed unsophisticated 
warmth, he turned hastily. The tall vase of 
prismatic glass, which had held his admiration 
on his first visit to the hotel, caught his eye. 

Say, isn’t that a peach of a shiner I ” he 
exclaimed to Step, who happened to be near- 
est him. 

Eh ? ” Step appeared to be in doubt of 
his meaning. 

Poke, impatiently and with the awkward- 
ness of embarrassment, under the clerk’s gaze, 
threw out a hand. 

<< Why, there 


he began, but broke off 


130 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

abruptly. The gesture had been more violent 
than he realized. His hand struck something 
smartly — and the something was the tall shaft 
of the vase. 

Whew I he gasped, and made a desperate 
effort to avert the disaster. But he was too 
late. 

The vase swayed. Then, seeming to slip 
through his hands, it fell from its standard, 
and striking the floor with a mighty crash 
was splintered into a score of pieces. 

Step, with a howl of alarm, sprang back. 
The others came running up to see what had 
happened. Poke, though, stood like one 
rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the 
glittering fragments. 

The clerk hurried from behind the desk. 
His expression was serious, but he spoke 
quietly, with no raising of his voice. 

“ IPs too bad. An accident, of course, but 
an unfortunate one.’^ 

Poke found tongue. I donT see how I 
hit it. I was just trying to point to it, and 
bang I I was into it, and it was smashing on 
the floor I I never dreamed of — of — of mak- 
ing such a wreck.” 


POKES MTSTERT 


131 

I presume not/' said the clerk in his 
quiet fashion. Then with a change of tone 
he addressed a bell-boy : “ Clear up this mess 
— at once." 

Instinctively Poke was fumbling in his 
pocket. “ The damage — how much ? If 

you'll tell me, I'll " 

Oh, there is no hurry," said the clerk. 

I shall have to refer the whole matter to 
the proprietor, who is away for a few days." 

“ Then I can't settle it now ? " 

The corners of the man's mouth twitched, 
but his speech was matter-of-fact. 

No ; a case like this must be referred to 
the proprietor. I'm sure I don’t know what 
view he may take of it, or of the — ah — ah — 
the question of responsibility. We have your 
name and address, you understand ; he can 
communicate with you if he desires to do so." 

“ Oh I " said Poke weakly. He was half 
rejoiced by the delay, half frightened by the 
hint of written claim for damages. “ Oh I 
Then there's nothing to be done now ? " 

Not a thing I " said the clerk crisply ; and 
retired to his place behind the desk. 

Poke turned unhappily to his friends, but 


132 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

none of them had comfort to ofi’er in this 
sudden and unfortunate turn in affairs. 

I — I suppose we might as well start for 
home/’ he said drearily. “I — I guess the 
sooner we’re out of here, the better.” 


CHAPTER IX 


SAM GETS A KEMINDER 

The disastrous sequel to Poke’s dinner party 
was the chief topic of talk among the Safety 
First Club, with Poke himself in a state of 
mind which can be more easily imagined than 
described. The breaking of the big vase was 
due to him. He had had not the slightest in- 
tention to break it, but this did not alter the 
bitter fact. He was responsible for the fall of 
the vase. Like the honest fellow he was, he 
accepted the responsibility — and wondered 
much how he was to meet it. 

What had been the value of the vase? 
Not a member of the club could enlighten 
him. Varley, approached as one of wider 
knowledge, declined to venture an opinion. 

It may have cost a lot, or it may have 
been very cheap,” he said. Unless you’re 
an expert, you can’t tell.” 

That’s the way with a lot of things in 
133 


134 the SAFETT first CLUB 

this world I groaned Poke, and sought the 
Shark, as an expert in mathematics, at least. 

The Shark, gave him little comfort. He 
was more than ready to undertake a calcula- 
tion of the possible value , of the vase, based 
on the cost of a bit of cut-glass, owned by his 
mother, of the price of which he happened to 
be aware. But though he made most careful 
estimates of the height of the vase, he soon 
came to difficulties. 

“ Look here. Poke I said he. I can 
arrive at an approximation of the volume of 
the thing, but how does the price increase in 
comparison with the size? Arithmetical or 
geometrical progression ? If it’s arithmetical, 
it’ll be bad enough ; but if it’s geometrical — 
whew ! ” 

Poke was aghast. You — you mean it’d 

mount up to — to — hundreds of dollars? ” 
Hundreds ? Rats I Thousands I ” snapped 
the Shark. ‘^Just you wait till I get it in 
black and white — on estimates, of course. I 
can’t pretend to get exact results when I’ve 
no precise data to work on.” 

But Poke didn’t wait. Instead, he fled ; 
and seeking out his especial crony, Step, 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 135 

confided to him that he believed he was 
doomed to be a bond-slave for life. 

“ You see, I’ve got to work it off myself,” 
he explained. “ When the folks said I could 
have the party, they made it a condition that 
there mustn’t be any rough pranks — any 
breaking thinks, you know. And I promised 
there shouldn’t be. And there wasn’t — every- 
body behaved like a gentleman — till I went 
smashing into that show-piece. I haven’t 
told ’em at the house — yet ; I’ll never tell 
’em if I can possibly help it.” 

‘‘ Sure you won’t,” quoth the sympathetic 
Step. No fellow likes to ’fess up when the 
joke’s on him.” 

The joke ! ” roared Poke. ** Great Scott, 
but you’ve got a mighty queer notion of 
what’s funny I You’d like to see a house fall 
on a fellow.” 

Oh, come now ! I didn’t mean to hurt 
your feelings,” pleaded Step. 

“ You can’t hurt ’em worse than they’re 
already hurt,” groaned Poke, of a sudden 
dreary again. 

He went away, so downcast and so unlike 
his normally cheerful self that Step was 


136 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

stricken with fear for him, tinged with re- 
morse for his own lightsome treatment of the 
subject. And, being thus burdened in soul, 
he had an inspiration. He happened to know 
where some old catalogues of city department 
stores were gathering dust in an attic. These 
volumes, brought to light and consulted, 
offered hope. Step carried them to Poke. 

“ Look here ! he said. “ Maybe TwonT be 
so fierce, after all. Here's a whopping big 
vase — I guess it's taller than the one at the 
hotel. And it's priced at only $3.98. There's 
a picture of it." 

Poke eagerly inspected the cut. Then his 
face fell. 

“ 'Tisn't the same shape," he objected. 

“ Well, no — not exactly the same," Step 
confessed. “ There is a little difference." 

A little difference 1 Just about as little as 
there is between your shape and mine I " 

It was not an unhappy comparison. Poke 
was short and plump ; Step was tall and slen- 
der. There was a like variance between the 
somewhat jug-like ornament depicted in the 
catalogue and the graceful vase which had stood 
on the desk of the Rainbow Mountain House. 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 137 

All right ; have it your way if you want 
to/' Step agreed. 

Again Poke studied the illustration. 
“ What's more, this one's made out of differ- 
ent stuff. It doesn't look like glass." 

“ I didn't say it was." 

Poke shut the book with a bang of temper. 
“ You didn't say anything sensible." 

Then Step revolted at this ingratitude. 

Look here, Poke, that's carrying your 
grouch too far I Wasn't I trying to help 
you ? " 

Oh, I know you mean well," Poke 
groaned. 

“ And wasn't I doing you a favor ? Don't 
you want to be posted ? Here's a whopping 
big thing you can get for $3.98. That's 
worth knowing if they try to come any funny 
business on you." 

Poke cheered a trifle. “ Say, there’s some- 
thing in that." 

“ You bet there is I And when you come 
down to brass tacks, a vase is a vase." 

Poke did not deny the proposition. ** Yes ; 
that’s so. Still " 

** And you know where you're at." 


138 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

But that’s just what I don’t.” 

'' Of course you do ! ” Step said impatiently. 

You’re getting a line on what vases cost — 
some vases, that is. And — er — er — ‘ Knowl- 
edge is power,’ you know,” he concluded with 
sudden solemnity. 

“I suppose that’s so,” Poke admitted dubi- 
ously. Only I don’t see ” 

The fire of imagination blazed in Step — 
somehow it kindled readily when these two 
chums were in consultation. 

‘‘ Crackee ! But I’ve got an idea. Poke — 
best ever I Don’t you wait for the hotel folks 
to do something. Do something yourself, and 
do it first I ” 

What can I do?” Poke asked helplessly. 

^‘That’s easy. You owe ’em for a vase. 
Send ’em one.” 

“ What I One of the three-ninety-eight 
kind?” 

“How much money have you got?” Step 
demanded bluntly. 

“ Oh, ten dollars or so — that is, by scraping 
everything together I can raise that much.” 

“ Then make it a ten-dollar one — best you 
can find for the money. Ship it to ’em with 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 139 

a nice note — you know the sort : you greatly 
regret the accident and you’re making haste 
to replace the property destroyed. They’ll 
read it, and they’ll see the new vase, and 
they’ll say, ^ Well, there’s a boy who means 
to do the right thing ; we can’t be too hard on 
him. Guess we’d better call it quits.’ And 
there you are I What more could you ask ? ” 
Poke was blinking like one dazzled by the 
prospect. “ I — I — say, wonder if the thing 
would work?” 

“ How can you tell till you try ? ” 

“ That’s so. Only ” 

‘‘ Hang it, ^ only ’ never got anybody any- 
where 1 ” Step expostulated. 

Maybe not.” 

“ It surely never did,” Step insisted. 

Poke evidently was half-persuaded. ‘‘ It’s 
a great scheme — I’ll say that for it. So I 

guess I— I’ll ” 

You’ll do it right off? ” 

“ No ; I guess I’ll ask Sam’s advice.” 

Step’s face fell. '‘Oh, if you haven’t any 

mind of your own ” 

“ I’ve mind enough to know Sam’s got 
more hard sense,” said Poke firmly. And to 


140 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Sam he went, forthwith, laying before him 
Step's plan and admitting his own liking for 
it. 

Sam listened patiently, but shook his head 
when the tale was told. 

I'm afraid it wouldn't be a case of the 
Safety First rule," he said. Your selection. 
Poke, might not please the hotel people. And, 
of course, we're all at sea about the value. No ; 
better wait till you hear from them." 

“ But the suspense — it's awful ! " 

“ It won't kill you. Besides, very likely — 
that is, there's a chance — nothing'll happen. 
Varley seems to think it may work out that 
way, and the Rainbow Mountain House will 
just charge the item to profit and loss, or 
breakage, or whatever they choose to call it." 

“ That'd be too good luck to come true," 
objected Poke, but he went away more or 
less comforted by the suggestion, nevertheless. 
Certainly, the hotel management was in no 
haste to send its bill. Step maliciously hinted 
that the delay meant merely a heavier charge 
in the end, but Poke's spirits began to revive 
as day followed day, and there was no word 
from Rainbow Mountain. 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 14 1 

His cheerfulness increased in spite of ad- 
verse weather conditions. With the lengthen- 
ing days and the sun higher in the heavens, 
the snow should have been shrinking season- 
ably, but the sunny days were few, and 
between them came other days, in which the 
white flakes fell heavily. In the town great 
banks showed on the north side of buildings, 
while the mounds along the sidewalks grew 
grimy and icy with alternate melting and 
replenishing. From the country roundabout 
came stories of extraordinary depth of snow 
in the woods and in sheltered hollows. Old 
residents were shaking their heads and re- 
calling tales of spring floods. A heavy rain 
and a sharp rise in temperature would mean 
streams over their banks and perhaps a deal of 
damage by floods swelled by the melting snow. 

The boys were not worrying about such 
possibilities. They were eager for the coming 
of warmer weather. 

“ WeVe had enough of winter this trip/^ 
the Trojan declared, and the others approved 
the sentiment. Even the Shark fell into line, 
although he insisted that this winter was 
doubtless very like other winters, and began 


142 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

to collect statistics to prove his contention. 
Presently he had some neat tabulations, with 
averages of snowfall and temperature carried 
out to four places of decimals, and was devot- 
ing a fair share of his leisure to efforts to 
secure an audience while he pointed out a 
number of popular errors the figures revealed. 

So the days went by, and the weeks, tran- 
quilly enough for the club. Sam was study- 
ing hard. Once or twice he did a lesson 
with Varley, being glad of the chance, indeed, 
to keep in touch with the older boy. 

Varley made no reference to his uninten- 
tional breach of the rules of the Safety First 
Club, nor did he give a 'hint that the Shark 
had enlightened him about his blunder. Sam 
appreciated his reticence. Apology would 
have been awkward for both of them. Varley 
was taking care to keep away from the club, 
and ignoring the earlier incident seemed to 
be the easiest and best way to deal with the 
situation. 

Without coming to Intimacy, Sam and Paul 
got on very well together. Neither sought 
the other out frequently, but, as has been said, 
they studied in company now and then, and 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 143 

often strolled along together, when they met 
on the street. So it came about that Varley 
was a witness of Sam’s next meeting with the 
grateful Mrs. Grant, and played his part in 
bringing about the events which followed that 
encounter. 

A sleigh turning from the beaten track and 
pulling up beside the deeply buried curb ; a 
beckoning hand ; a cheerful voice calling 
briskly — these were the circumstances under 
which Sam became aware that speech with 
him was desired, and recognized Mrs. Grant. 
Touching his cap, he stepped as near the 
sleigh as the banks of snow permitted. Much 
of the old chagrin because of the lady’s 
effusive and public thanks for his services had 
worn away ; and since the reconciliation with 
his mates of the club there had been times 
when he regretted that he had not been more 
responsive. 

Mrs. Grant, plainly, had been on ashopping 
tour ; for the sleigh was piled high with pack- 
ages. She beamed upon Sam, and stretching 
out a gloved hand, shook his very heartily. 

“ Now, this is what I call luck ! ” she ex- 
claimed. was just wondering where I 


144 the SAFETT first CLUB 

could find you, and then, quick as a wink, 
there you are ! My, but it’s funny how 
things happen sometimes I ” 

Yes, ma’am,” said Sam. “ And — er — er — 
how do you do ? ” 

Mrs. Grant chuckled. “ Well, I guess Fm 
bearing up amazing well, all things considered. 
And I don’t see as you’re getting puny or 
peaked yourself.” 

“ No, ma’am.” 

Her eyes twinkled. Te he I Didn’t know 
but you were pining for that mince pie I 
promised you.” 

Sam felt his cheeks burn. I — I — oh, I 

didn’t mind,” he said confusedly. 

“ But I did,” said Mrs. Grant crisply. 
“ Somehow I like to keep my promises, and I 
certainly did promise you that pie. When 
are you coming to get it ? ” 

“ Why—why ” 

“ I’ll be ready for you any time. Only the 
sooner, the better.” 

It — it’s very kind of you.” Sam said it 
courteously, if a trifle brokenly. At the mo- 
ment his chief thought was to avoid betrayal 
of his feeling in the matter of all mince pies, 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 145 

a feeling which, of a sudden, had grown to 
loathing. But he had had his lesson of the 
unwisdom of permitting a pie to start a 
quarrel. 

Then Til look for you — come now, let's 
see I " Mrs. Grant wrinkled her forehead 
thoughtfully. To-day's Tuesday — um — um I 
And to-morrow I've got to go over to the East 
Village. Then Thursday's sewing circle day. 
But Friday — after your school's out? You 
can manage to come over to the farm easy 
enough — why not ? " 

Why— why " 

Why, of course you can ! " cried Mrs. 
Grant energetically. But I say I " Her 
glance went to Varley, who had remained 
modestly in the background. Sakes alive, 
but there's the other boy ! The one that tried 
and didn't; but he meant just exactly as well 
as if he'd known how — you know what I'm 
talking about, and that’s the time this foolish 
horse bolted. Bring him with you, too." 

I’ll be very glad to come," said Varley 
promptly. 

Mrs. Grant was eyeing him shrewdly. 

Shouldn't wonder if we could show him 


146 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

some things/^ said she. “ He looks sort of 
citified, and we’re country — real country — out 
to Sugar Valley. But that reminds me — it’s 
most sugaring time now. ’Twill be, soon’s 
we get a spell of warm weather to start the 
sap running ; and it’s my notion when winter 
breaks, it’ll break quick. Come now I Never 
seen ’em sugar-off, has he?” 

Varley saved Sam the trouble of making 
answer. Indeed I haven’t, but I’d like to.” 

“Well,” said Mrs. Grant, addressing him 
directly, “ I don’t know as we can show you 
the sap running, and the kettles boiling by 
Friday, but we can show you all the works. 

We’ve got quite a lot of bush and 

“ I beg your pardon ! Bush ? ” 

Mrs. Grant laughed. “That’s just a name 
for it — our name. You’d call it a grove, I 
guess. And there’s an old house where we 
keep the kettles — why, it’s quite an outfit, 
when you see it all. And I reckon you’ll find 
it mighty entertaining.” 

“ I’m sure I shall.” 

“ Then that settles it — Friday it is ! ” she 
said with decision, and turned again to Sam. 

I tell you what ! We’ll make a regular 


SAM GETS A REMINDER 147 

party. Suppose you bring along half a dozen 
of your chums — more, if you want to. Good- 
ness knows, our old house is big enough to 
take you all in I And let’s see I You can 
come out right after school, and we’ll have 
dinner — it’ll be waiting for you. And I’ll get 
that mince pie off my conscience. Then Mr. 
Grant can take you down to the island — it 
isn’t an island, really, but that’s what we call 
it — and let you see the apparatus for making 
maple syrup and sugar.” She turned swiftly 
back to Varley. You said it’d be all new to 
you, didn’t you ? ” 

“ Every bit of it.” 

Then I can count on you, too? ” 

It’s I that’ll do the counting I I wouldn’t 
miss the trip for worlds I ” cried Varley en- 
thusiastically. 

His evident delight in the plan swept away 
any lingering doubts Sam may have felt. It 
wouldn’t be fair to spoil Varley’s pleasure be- 
cause of his own rather vague reluctance. 

“ Yes, you may count on us, Mrs. Grant,” 
he said. “ And as for more fellows — well, I 
know a crowd that’ll like to come, too. We’ll 
be there — on time — Friday.” 


CHAPTER X 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 

Sam had taken for granted that there would 
be no parental objections to the expedition, 
and in this he found himself a true prophet. 

Mr. Parker not only agreed to the plan, but 
also showed approval of it. 

A little outing will be good for you, Sam,' 
said he. You've been attending pretty 
strictly to business lately, and it's time for a 
break in the routine. By the way, your good 
conduct marks ought to be mounting up 
handsomely." 

Sam laughed. '' Well, sir, I haven't seemed 
to have many chances to get into trouble." 

“ Haven't looked for them very anxiously, 
have you ? " 

Sam's eye met his father's, and a trace of 
red showed in the boy's cheek. 

“ Safety first, sir I " he said. “ You know 
148 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 149 

Fve had that lesson taught me mighty thor- 
oughly.” 

Mr. Parker studied his son closely for a 
moment. 

^‘So? Well, I'm glad to hear the instruc- 
tion hasn't been wasted. . . . But, tell 

me I Find life robbed of a little of its spice, 
eh?'' 

Sam paused for thought before he answered ; 
the question was not one he could dispose of 
lightly, especially when it had been put by 
his father. There was a very good under- 
standing between father and son, but it had 
not been arrived at without some grievous ex- 
periences for the youth. On that account he 
prized it the more, and desired to maintain it. 

“ Sometimes it does seem as if a fellow 
missed some fun, sir. I don't know, though 
— mostly, afterward, I can figure out that 
everybody is better off because the thing 
wasn't done — the thing that seemed to prom- 
ise sport, I mean.'' 

“ But there are other things that promise 
sport, and supply it, and harm nobody, aren't 
there?" 

Oh, yes." 


1 50 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ And you’re beginning to discriminate? ” 

Sam wriggled ; he was by no means over- 
impressed with his own sagacity. 

Why — why, I try to discriminate — that’s 
the very secret of our Safety First idea, isn’t 
it? Of course, I make bulls — mistakes, I 
mean — a lot of them.” 

“ Then what ? ” 

I try not to repeat them,” said Sam 
simply. I don’t know any better rule.” 

“ There is none,” said his father decidedly. 

And, on the whole, you’ll find that if you 
follow the rule, it still leaves plenty of good, 
clean fun in life as well as a reasonable share 
of adventure. Not that I imagine you’ll run 
across much of the latter in Sugar Valley, 
though I ” 

“ It isn’t very likely,” said Sam. 

Well, Lon can drive you over,” said his 
father. ** The big sleigh will take you all in. 
I’ll guarantee it, though I won’t do as much 
for the sleighing. The snow has lasted un- 
usually long, but the season is now so late 
that if it once begins to go, it will go very 
fast.” 

But there’s such a lot of it,” Sam objected. 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 151 

** There is an uncommon amount — that’s 
true. I’ve seen late spring thaws, though, 
when the greater the depth of snow, the 
faster it seemed to vanish. Still, with the 
amount we now have, it would need fast work 
to clear the ground before Friday.” 

That’s my notion, too, sir,” said Sam, 
half regretfully. The truth was, he was in 
two minds about the expedition. Consider- 
ing only his own preferences, he might have 
chosen to stay at home ; but there was Varley 
to be taken into account, and Varley un- 
doubtedly was very desirous of seeing Sugar 
Valley. The boys of the club, too, would like 
to go. All of them said so, at once and 
emphatically. So Sam held conference with 
Lon Gates, who readily promised to have the 
big sleigh ready ; though he was far from an 
optimist when the subject of the weather was 
broached. 

Take it this time o’ year, Sam,” he ex- 
plained, and guessin’ on that’s like buyin’ a 
pig in a poke, only more so. You see, every- 
thing’s betwixt and between, same’s butter 
that ain’t quite made up its mind whether to 
come or not. And all the signs are mixed 


152 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

and confusin'. Why, jest t'other day I heard 
two of the oldest inhabitants squabblin' over 
whether the groundhog really see his shadow 
Candlemas day ; and 'sfar's I can find out the 
most reliable goose-bones in town are actin' 
every which way except alike. But if you 
insist on havin' my forecast, personal-like. 
I'm votin' for a change in weather. I've got 
a rheumaticky spot or two that’s been tunin' 
up lately ; and there was a mighty funny 
lookin' sunset t'other night. Still, nobody 
can tell. And if you’ll be ready for me Fri- 
day, I'll be ready for you." 

Sam, thus advised, tried to study the 
weather signs for himself. Thursday dawned 
mild and calm, with a thin haze in the air 
and a marked rise in temperature. The eaves 
were dripping briskly when he started for 
school, and when he came home for dinner, 
the snow layer seemed to have shrunk amaz- 
ingly. Where foot travel was greatest the 
sidewalks showed black and bare ; puddles 
formed in low places ; the compacted and 
leveled track of the sleighs grew dingier than 
ever. Throughout the afternoon the same 
conditions held, until with the coming of 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 153 

darkness the temperature dropped a trifle, 
and a thin coating of ice formed on the little 
ponds of snow-water. 

'‘UmphI What did I tell you? Weather 
breeder I ” was Lon’s oracular speech, when 
Sam sought his opinion of the probabilities 
for the morrow. But even Lon declined to 
commit myself on the sort of weather which 
might be expected. So Sam went to bed little 
the wiser, and woke to find another day seem- 
ingly much like that which had gone before, 
still, warm and hazy, with the eaves dripping 
more merrily than ever, the puddles bigger 
and deeper, and the streets coated with a 
slush, peculiarly damp and chilling in its 
effect on shoe-leather. 

Sam splashed to school, to find that news 
of his party had reached the principal, and 
had won an unexpected favor— excuses for all 
hands from attendance for the last period of 
the day. The boon, it appeared, had been 
secured by the Shark, who stood high in the 
esteem of the head of the school, himself a 
member of the mathematically inclined 
brotherhood. It was thus possible to make 
an earlier start than had been proposed for 


154 the safety first CLUB 

Sugar Valley. Lon, called up by telephone, 
was agreeable to the change. 

'' Sure I'll be glad to get away," he de- 
clared. “ Quicker I go, less I'll be wonderin' 
if I ain't a howlin' idiot not to start on wheels 
instead o' runners." 

Then you think " 

Lon cut short the inquiry over the wire. 
‘‘ I think it's the breakin' up of a hard 
winter, son. And that's all I'm capable o' 
thinkin' at once. Now, you'd better get busy 
— I've got to." 

Excused a little before noon, the boys hur- 
ried home for final preparations for their out- 
ing. Sam found Lon ready for him. He 
climbed into the sleigh, and off they went, 
stopping first to pick up Varley, and then 
the Shark. Next they added Tom Orkney, 
Herman Boyd and the Trojan to the party, 
which now lacked only Poke and Step. 

“ Try Step's house first," Sam suggested. 

Lon nodded, and chirruped to his horses, 
which broke into a brisk trot, with much 
splashing of water from the puddles along 
the way. The sleighing certainly was going 
fast, but so great had been the accumulation 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 155 

of snow that it promised to last out the day, 
at least. 

‘‘ Say, Lon, why didn't you bring a boat ? " 
the Trojan queried, as something very like a 
dash of spray shot over the side of the sleigh. 

“ Huh I Ark'd been nearer the bill, seein' 
the kind o’ load I’m freightin’,” Lon re- 
sponded promptly. 

“ I guess we’ll find the brooks high,” Her- 
man Boyd put in. 

“ Bankful and brimmin’ over,” quoth Lon. 

Maybe you fellows will have to get out and 
wade before we get back.” 

“ Well, we’ll risk it,” cried Herman cheer- 
fully. 

They turned a corner, and drew up before 
the Jones house. Nobody was in sight about 
the premises. 

Sam raised a lusty hail. Oh, you Step I 
Hi there I Hurry up I ” 

There was no response. Sam called again, 
still more loudly. The Trojan had the knack 
of putting his knuckles to his mouth and 
emitting a peculiarly shrill and penetrating 
whistle. He blew it now, quite without re- 
sult. Then the crowd shouted in chorus. 


156 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

The kitchen door opened. A woman looked 
out. She waved a hand toward the club-house, 
which, as has been explained, stood in a corner 
of the yard. 

“ What the mischief Sam began, but 

cut short his speech, and sprang to the ground. 
Orkney followed him. One or two of the 
others were about to imitate the example, but 
Sam waved them back. 

No ; two of us are enough,’^ he said. I 
can’t guess what’s happened, but something 
has. Orkney and I’ll find out. Come along, 
Tom I ” 

They hurried up the path to the club-house. 
The door was ajar. Sam, by this time puz- 
zled and a bit alarmed, pushed it open, and 
looked in, Orkney peering over his shoulder. 

Both Step and Poke were in the room. 
They were facing each other, though neither 
appeared to be looking at the other. Poke 
was slumped on a lounge in an attitude of 
utter dejection, but Step might have posed for 
a picture of absolute woe. 

At that moment even a stranger would 
have understood how Clarence Jones came by 
his nickname ; for beyond denial he strongly 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 1 57 

suggested a step-ladder, and a step-ladder 
folded hastily. As he had picked out the 
lowest chair in the room, his knees seemed 
to rise to a level with his ears, while his long 
arms dangled till his hands rested limply on 
the floor. His head sagged upon his breast. 
His lips were moving, and from them came 
mournful sounds. 

“ Brace up. Poke I . . . Oh, brace up, 

I say I . . . Pull yourself together ! . . . 
IPs certainly awful, but br-brace up, I tell 
you ! 

Never was there more doleful encourage- 
ment ; but it served, at least, to give Sam 
some clew to the mystery. It was Poke 
who was in trouble. Convinced of this, at 
least, he stepped into the room, and laid a 
hand on Poke’s shoulder. 

Well, what’s the row?” he demanded. 

Must be a big one to keep you two from 
hearing the racket we raised outside.” 

Poke slowly raised his head. He stared at 
Sam, vaguely, blankly. It was Step who spoke. 

“ You — you brace up, Poke I And you — 
you go away, Sam I . . . But don’t you 

let it knock you out. Poke I Be a man ! ” 


158 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Sam turned to him. If youVe going to 
do the talking, talk sense I ” he said sharply. 

Step waved his long arms tragically. 

Sam, the worst has happened I Poke’s 
got a letter I ” 

** Well, what of it ? ” Sam asked sharply. 

“What of it I Why, when I came along 
just now he had it.” 

“ Of course he’d have it, if he’d got it. 
Don’t be an idiot ! ” 

Step’s arms dropped rather more tragically 
than they had been raised. 

“ It — it’s spoiled everything for him. And 
I don’t wonder. But I was trying to cheer 
him up when you came blundering in.” 

“ Queer cheering ! ” growled Sam. “ And 
much good you were doing him I Now cut 
this foolishness and come along, both of you. 
The crowd’s waiting outside with Lon, and 
it’s time we were starting.” 

Poke broke his silence at that. “ Oh, I 
can’t go I ” he groaned. “ I — I’d have no 
heart for it.” 

“ Shucks ! It’ll do you all the more good.” 

“ Nothing can do him good,” croaked Step ; 
then added, rather contradictorily, if with the 


THE BLOW DESCENDS 159 

best of intention : “ Brace up, Poke I Pull 
yourself together 1 Nev — never say die ! 

Sam glanced from one to the other. Step 
and Poke were close chums ; the sorrows of 
one were generally shared by the other. He 
was satisfied that the present trouble was 
really serious, though, as it happened, it did 
not occur to him to hit upon a clew to the 
mystery by recalling Poke’s mishap with the 
big vase. To tell the truth, that incident had 
rather slipped his mind with the passage of 
time. Now, though, studying Poke, he ob- 
served a crumpled sheet of paper clutched in 
his hand. 

Sam bent down. By the exertion of some 
force he took possession of the paper. Poke 
resisting feebly. Smoothing the sheet, he ran 
his eye down the typewritten page. And, as 
he read, he whistled shrilly. 

The letter was from the Rainbow Mountain 
House. It was signed by the proprietor him- 
self. Its tone was formal and businesslike. 

The writer explained the delay by the time 
which had been found necessary to learn the 
cost of replacing the vase. This point had 
now been established. 


i6o THE SHFETT FIRST CLUB 


“ ‘ We find that a duplicate can be obtained, 
and invite your early attention to the mat- 
ter,' " Sam read aloud. ‘ The expense will 
be $176.' " 

Orkney echoed Sam's whistle. Poke groaned 
weakly. Step tore his hair. 

“ One hundred and seventy-five dollars ! " 
Sam said very slowly. “ ‘ We invite your 
early attention to the matter 1 ' Wow, but 
that — that’s a sockdologer I ” 

“ He can’t pay it ! ” cried Orkney. It's 
too much. And if the thing was worth so 
much, it ought to have been kept where it 
would be safe." 

That's true," Sam agreed. 

Poke shook his head sadly. I’ve got to 
pay — I said I would." 

“ But you can’t raise the money. The whole 
club couldn't raise it." 

“ It isn’t the club’s job — it’s mine." 

‘‘ Nonsense. All of us were at the dinner." 

But all of you didn’t smash the vase. I 
did that myself." 

And he hates to let his folks know," Step 
explained in a stage whisper. You see, 
things have been — er — er — they’ve been kind 





4 4 


> » 


YOU CAN T RAISE THE MONEY 



THE BLOW DESCENDS i6i 

of piling up on him lately, and his folks— 
well, they're getting prejudiced." 

“ I see," said Sam soberly. Then he paused, 
and took thought. Look here. Poke ! " he 
went on. You, too. Step I I suppose that 
letter came to-day." 

“ Yes, he found it when he came home from 
school," Step declared. 

Well, it doesn’t have to be answered to- 
day. You fellows have got to come along 
with the rest of us." 

“Oh, I couldn’t!" 

“ Oh, we can’t 1 " 

Poke and Step both cried out in protest. 
Sam’s face grew determined. 

“ You’ll guess again about that 1 This is a 
thing we’re all in, and the trip will give us 
a chance to talk it over. And getting out 
will do both of you a lot of good." 

“ But, Sam, there’d be no fun for us," Step 
argued. “ We’d just be wet blankets on the 
crowd and " 

Now and then a leader has to assert his 
leadership. Sam had not been head of the 
Safety First Club without learning some of 
the secrets of mastery. He shot a meaning 


i 62 the SAFETT first CLUB 


glance at Tom Orkney, who understood, and 
nodded approval. 

“ Tend to Step, Tom,” Sam said curtly. 
Then he himself caught Poke’s collar, dragged 
that youth to his feet, and propelled him 
toward the door. Close behind him came 
Orkney, hauling along the struggling Step 
and paying no attention to his vociferous 
objections. And so down the path moved the 
little procession, to the edification and amaze- 
ment of Lon and Varley, and the other mem- 
bers of the club, thus recruited to its full 
strength for the expedition to Sugar Valley. 


CHAPTER XI 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE OF SUGAR VALLEY 

Being a youth in full possession of his fac- 
ulties and powers of observation, Paul Varley 
understood perfectly that there was something 
curious in the fashion in which Step and Poke 
were loaded into the big sleigh ; but he was 
also shrewd enough to perceive that there was 
no intention to let him into the secret. The 
late comers had been hailed impatiently or 
derisively, but Varley noted that none of the 
questions as to the cause of their delay was 
pressed. A nudge from Sam or Orkney, or a 
sharp glance, or a muttered word seemed to 
check inquisitiveness immediately. Paul saw, 
and heeded, and guessed the truth, in part, at 
least. Whatever might be amiss, the other 
boys regarded it as something not to be re- 
vealed outside the circle of the club. Satisfied 
of this, he took care to help them along by 
making talk. 

Varley had no diflSculty in finding topics. 

163 


1 64 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

The weather, the clouds, the rapidly melting 
snow, the swollen streams they crossed — about 
all these things he put many questions. The 
boys, in turn, appealed to Lon. What did he 
think of the prospects, anyway ? 

Lon squinted at the gray sky, and then at 
the sloppy road. 

“ Well, ’less something breaks, we’re goin’ 
to get there ; and if harness and runners hold 
out, we’re goin’ to get home again,” he de- 
clared. Dunno’s I’d call it exactly a pleas- 
ure trip, but I guess we’ll pull through some- 
how, as the molasses candy said to the sugar 
bowl. Maybe it’ll be sleighin’, and then again 
maybe it’ll be draggin’ through mud ; but 
we’ve got a good, husky team o’ bosses, and if 
none of the bridges takes a notion to go floatin’ 
down stream, we’ll manage. And further de- 
ponent sayeth not.” 

But is it going to rain ? ” Sam persisted. 

“ Well, wind’s in the east. And if it stays 
there long enough, squirrels and pickerel will 
be classin’ alike in p’int o' dampness.” 

But is it going to stay there? ” 

Lon clucked to his horses ; then he glanced 
at the sky again. 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 165 

Huh I I reckon so — sooner or later there’ll 
be rain. How soon and how much ? Huh I 
Bein’ able to answer jest sech questions is how 
old Noah went and got his reputation. And 
he didn’t leave me his recipe for guessin’ right. 
So I ain’t committin’ myself, sonny.” 

Varley laughed with the others ; then gave 
himself to a study of the weather conditions. 
It was not a cheering prospect that met his 
eye. All the winter brilliancy of the land- 
scape had faded ; the great blanket of snow 
covering the earth was now a very wet blanket 
in fact and in appearance ; the leafless trees 
towered black and somber. Streams ran brim- 
full. Where there were rapids, they showed 
clear of ice, and along the smoother stretches, 
where the break-up had not yet come, the 
freshets poured along above the frozen layer 
as well as below it. 

Varley began to appreciate what the break- 
ing up of a hard winter ” meant. He won- 
dered, indeed, that Sam and Lon should have 
undertaken a trip on such a day, and then, 
correctly enough, inferred that they were keep- 
ing the engagement to visit Sugar Valley, be- 
cause there was no certainty that delay would 


i66 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


bring better conditions. In spite of the slush 
and the puddles, the big sleigh was making 
very good time. Satisfied that Lon knew his 
business, Paul quietly studied his companions. 
Poke and Step were silent and subdued, but 
the others were chatting briskly enough. He 
suspected a bit of method in this, and jumped 
to a conclusion that was not far from the mark. 
Whatever was amiss with Step and Poke, the 
club was treating it as a secret, not to be dis- 
cussed before even so sympathetic an outsider 
as he was himself To tell the truth, Paul 
admired the new evidence of the strength of 
the bond which held this group of chums. 
As it happened, he had many friends but few 
intimates ; and sometimes he had longed for 
just such close association as the Safety First 
Club provided. 

For a time the road crossed ground with 
which Varley had some slight acquaintance, 
but then Lon turned sharply to the left and 
toward the narrow cleft in the hills which 
Sam once had pointed out to Paul as the en- 
trance to Sugar Valley. On close inspection the 
pass was narrower even than it had appeared 
to be from a distance. On both sides the 


. THE GREAT MINCE PIE 167 

rocky banks rose so steeply as to suggest cliflFs, 
while at their base flowed the Sugar River, a 
considerable stream, at least in spring time. 
It was spanned by two bridges, one a gaunt 
steel structure carrying railroad tracks, the 
other a covered highway bridge, of the old- 
fashioned wooden construction. Both these 
bridges were close to the mouth of the glen, 
and their piers seemed half to fill the space 
between the banks of the river. The water 
was swirling merrily about the masonry, 
against which from time to time little fioes of 
ice dashed with a fine crash ; a ragged fringe 
of fragments lined the banks ; the air was full 
of spray of a peculiarly chilly and penetrating 
quality. The boys dug their chins into the 
collars of their overcoats as the sleigh dragged 
across the bridge. 

Whew I Talk about your cold storage 
plants I cried the Trojan — and that was what 
all of them thought. 

Then a twist in the road showed them that 
the valley broadened widely, with ranges of 
low hills on either hand. Near the river they 
saw a series of natural terraces, which a fanci- 
ful eye might have regarded as suggesting 


i68 THE SJFETT FIRST CLUB 


shallow benches of a great amphitheatre. The 
hills were wooded, and so was part of the 
lower ground, with dense swamp growth here 
and there. The road hugged the base of the 
hills to the left. Evidently it was much 
traveled, though there were few houses in 
sight. Lon offered explanation of this. 

Big farms along here, mostly. Been 
owned by the same families pretty nigh ever 
since Adam and Eve came to the jumpin^ off 
place. DonT quite believe that, eh? Well, 
then. I'll compromise, and make it since the 
white folks came into this deestrict. But 
above here a piece there's quite a settlement. 
The Grants, though, belong down here in the 
old settler class. Old Nahum Grant, he was 

one of the fust white men to But, 

hullo I There's the house now I " 

The boys looked in the direction in which 
his whip pointed. They saw a comfortable 
farmhouse, big and roomy, and flanked by 
huge barns. Then they were turning in at 
the gate, and pulling up before the house, 
and the door was opening, and Mrs. Grant, 
more beaming than ever, was bustling out to 
greet them. 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 169 

My soul and body I but it does me good to 
see you all I she exclaimed. Take a mopey, 
draggly day like this, and I didn’t know 
whether you’d sorter back out about coming 
way out here. But you didn’t — and there’s 
quite a lot of you. My, my, but I’m tickled I 
There haven’t been so many young folks at 
the old place since I don’t know when 1 ” 

Yes, ma’am, we’re all here,” Lon made 
answer. That is, unless three-four fell out 
of the sleigh a mile or two back. With a 
load like this a feller really ought to stop 
and take account of stock ’bout once in so 
often.” 

Bless me, if ’tain’t Lon Gates 1 ” cried Mrs. 
Grant delightedly. I vow, but it’s a sight 
for sore eyes I ” 

Same to you, ma’am, and three or four 
times over ! ” Lon responded gallantly. Then 
he surrendered the reins to a farm-hand, who 
came from the barn, and stepped to the porch, 
where Mrs. Grant was shaking hands with 
the boys, duly presented in turn by Sam. 

Mr. Grant came out of the house to join in 
the welcome to the visitors. He was a thin, 
elderly man, with a wisp of gray whisker, a 


170 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

quiet manner, and an eye which had a hu- 
morous twinkle. Then he and his wife shep- 
herded the party indoors. 

Paul Varley glanced about him curiously. 
The low ceilings, the home-made rugs on the 
floor, the kerosene lamps, the many rocking 
chairs, the big horsehair covered lounge — 
these things quite matched his expectations, 
but there were other things which jarred 
them. The piano in a corner of the great liv- 
ing-room was a handsome instrument; the 
gilded coils of a very modern steam radiator 
suggested that the wide fireplace now served 
ornamental rather than useful purposes. 
There were thriving plants at the windows, 
and on the center table lay a number of 
magazines and illustrated weekly papers. 
Against one wall stood a tall clock, which 
drew Paul like a magnet. His father was 
somewhat of a collector, and the son had 
picked up some bits Of information about 
ancient timepieces. This one, unless he were 
much mistaken, was very valuable. 

My great-grandfather made that,^’ Mr. 
Grant explained. That is, he had it 
made.” 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 171 

** To order ? ’’ Paul asked. 

Mr. Grant chuckled softly. “ It was very 
much that way. A friend of his, who went 
to England, brought back the works at his re- 
quest. Then a traveling cabinet maker and 
jack-of-all-trades put the case together, accord- 
ing to his ideas. Oh, yes, the journeyman 
and journeying mechanic was an institution 
of those days ; he’d make you a chest of 
drawers, or a table, or a clock case, or any- 
thing else. So great-grandfather picked his 
trees, and cut his lumber, and sawed his 
boards, and had the wood thoroughly sea- 
soned when the jack-of-all-trades came around 
to build just such a clock as he wanted.” 

Paul nodded. ** It seems to have been 
mighty good work, sir.” 

‘‘ That was a way they had,” said Mr. 
Grant. They didn’t have so many things 
then that they could afford to put up with 
slipshod work.” Then he turned to the 
Shark, who had marched up to a framed 
map, hanging near the clock, and was peer- 
ing at it through his spectacles. 

“ There’s an odd heirloom, young mam 
Know what it is? ” 


172 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ Of course/' said the Shark crisply. “ Re- 
lief map — I've seen the big one of the whole 
state in the capitol." 

“ Right 1 But this just shows Sugar Val- 
ley." 

‘‘ So I see," quoth the Shark quite as crisply 
as before, and continued his study. The map 
was like a carving, depressions being repre- 
sented by gouges in the wood of which it was 
made, and tiny ridges showing the terraces 
before one came to the greater elevation of the 
bordering hills. The course of the river and 
its tributary brooks could be very clearly fol- 
lowed. The Shark ran a finger along one of 
the curving levels, an action which caught the 
attention of Mrs. Grant. Instantly she was 
beside him. 

“ Well, did you find any ? " she demanded ; 
her tone was hardly tart, but it was tinged 
with suspicion. 

Of course I did," said the Shark. I 
knew it'd have to be there." 

Thereupon Mrs. Grant promptly caught his 
hand and peered quite as closely at the tip of 
the exploring finger as the Shark had peered 
at the map. 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 173 

Nonsense I There isnT a particle I ” she 
cried indignantly. 

“ There is,” said the Shark bluntly. Feel- 
ing is often more accurate than sight, and I 
felt it distinctly.” 

Mrs. Grant gasped. ** Goodness gracious, 
boy I Your mother must be one of those 
miracle housekeepers to bring you up to 
notice such things I ” 

<< Eh ? ” The Shark, in turn, was bewil- 
dered, but luckily bethought him of his man- 
ners. “ Excuse me, Mrs. Grant, but — but we 
canT be talking about the same thing.” 

I^m talking about dust I ” 

Oh I ” There was relief in the Shark^s tone : 
also there was a little impatience. Dust 
nothing I What do I care — er — er — I mean 
I was pretty sure there was a minor water- 
shed right there, but I had to feel to make 
certain. The light, you know, is not very 
strong ; hence the chance of error of vision is 
increased, and ” 

Mrs. Grant's laugh cut him short. It, too, 
betrayed relief. 

Ha, ha, ha I And I thought, if there'd 
been any error of vision, it must 'a' been mine. 


174 the SAFETT first CLUB 

when I dusted yesterday I And I don^t make 
my brags about some things, but if anybody 
can find dirt 

There she checked herself, and laughed 
again. ** Mercy me, boys, hear me run on I 
But I’m like everybody else ; I’ve got my 

prejudices, and if you get me started 

There, there I I’m starting, but I’m starting 
myself. And what you’re really thinking 
about. I’ll warrant, is dinner, for you’ll be 
hungry as bears — or boys — after your ride. I 
never could see much difference — between the 
bears and the boys. Not that I knew any 
bears real well, but I did get acquainted with 
a lot of boys, and they’d act sometimes a good 
deal the way folks say bears’ll take on, espe- 
cially about meal time. But * error of vision ’ 
— and what was that other thing — ^ minor 
water-shed,’ wasn’t it? Somehow, the boys 
I’ve known didn’t talk much about such 
things.” 

*'Oh, that’s just the Shark’s way, ma’am,” 
Sam hastened to explain. You see he’s a 
crackerjack at mathematics, and it’s all he 
cares for. That’s why we call him the Shark 
— he gobbles up problems so ! And when he 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 175 

saw that funny map, he couldn’t help figuring 
what it meant.” 

He figured one thing correctly, at any 
rate,” said Mr. Grant. “ There is a water- 
shed there, for there’s a spring, and the over- 
fiow drains north.” 

“ Well, there’ll be time enough for surveying 
talk, or whatever you call it, after dinner,” his 
wife interposed decidedly. Come on, every- 
body ! The things are on the table.” 

The boys streamed into the dining-room, 
and took the places their hostess pointed out. 
Varley was again unobtrusively observant. 
This room, like the other, was big and cheery, 
with plants at the windows. A huge side- 
board, set on curiously slender legs, ran half 
the length of one of the walls. Above it was 
a shelf on which stood a fine old clock. The 
table was very long ; long enough, indeed, to 
accommodate all the party, including Lon, 
who took his chair quite as a matter of course. 
The cloth was fine and snowy white ; the 
china and glass good, though a bit miscella- 
neous in design. Varley was clever enough 
to understand that the Grants evidently were 
very comfortably well-to-do, and this was 


176 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

borne out by the hospitable profusion with 
which the board was spread. There was set 
before Mr. Grant a huge platter, piled high 
with chicken fried a wonderful brown. There 
were mashed potatoes, and beets, and onions, 
and other vegetables ; there was a wholesale 
supply of apple sauce and cranberries, and 
half a dozen kinds of pickles. There were 
supplies of bread and butter for a small regi- 
ment, and tall pitchers of milk, with a steam- 
ing urn of coffee, over which Mrs. Grant 
presided. A ruddy and somewhat agitated 
maid hovered about her mistress, with whom 
she exchanged stage whispers frequently, 
followed by raids upon the pantry and replen- 
ishment of this or that dish. It was all very 
informal, very jolly, and, above all, very, very 
good. There were certain flaky biscuit, which 
captivated Paul, and of which he consumed 
more than he liked to keep count of ; though 
nobody seemed to bother on that score. Twice 
his plate went back for more chicken, follow- 
ing, be it said, the example set by other plates. 
The ride had sharpened appetites, which were 
healthily developed, anyway ; the blandish- 
ments of Mrs. Grant were hardly needed to 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 177 

persuade her guests to prove themselves 
mighty trenchermen. 

In that hospitable warmth good fellowship 
reigned. Step threw off his burden of care 
because of Poke’s misfortune, while Poke 
himself roused to a somewhat subdued cheer- 
fulness. There might be dark trouble ahead, 
but for the present he gave himself to the good 
things of the moment. 

Sam was as merry as the others, but a 
shadow of apprehension fell upon his face 
when Mrs. Grant rose and slipped into the 
pantry, whence proceeded sounds of her 
whispered conference with her assistant. 
Sam, of a sudden, had warnings. He had 
almost forgotten that long-promised mince 
pie ; now he recalled it, with remembrance 
of the anguish of mind it had caused him 
and wonder if it was to put him to further 
ordeals. Luckily, he had not long to wait in 
uncertainty. The pantry door swung. Ap- 
peared Mrs. Grant personally bearing the 
famous pie, the maid escorting her. 

And what a pie it was I 

Lon’s admiring exclamation was no more 
than deserved tribute. Great Scott, Mis’ 


178 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Grant, but you sure done it this time ! I’ve 
been brung up with pies, and I thought I’d 
seen all kinds they was, but I never clapped 
eyes on an old he-one like that! Jupiter 
crickets ! ” 

Now, in truth, it was a great pie, an enor- 
mous pie, a pie of dimensions, baked in the 
biggest dish any of the boys had ever seen so 
used ; a dish deep and wide. And it was a 
pie crowned with a gently rising dome of 
crust, tinted with the rich brown which be- 
speaks perfect cooking. Mrs. Grant set it on 
the table ; the maid came, bearing a pile of 
plates. Knife in hand, the hostess paused to 
address the company. 

Boys, I can’t make a speech, but I’m 
going to tell you something. It’s kind of a 
family tradition of the Grants — a mince pie 
is. Why, way back in the days of Dominie 
Pike ” 

Dominie Pike I ” It was the usually silent 
Tom Orkney who spoke, and his voice had a 
queer trace of excitement. 

M*rs. Grant turned to him. Why, yes — 
the Grants claim descent from him. But 
what’s the matter ? ” 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 179 

Tom went a fiery red under the gaze of the 
company. I — I — oh, nothing’s the matter,” 
he stammered confusedly. ” Only the name 
— it’s odd, you know, and — and ” 

Mrs. Grant nodded briskly. “ Does sound 
odd these times — ^ Dominie Pike.’ And I 
guess he was an odd stick himself, for all he 
was a minister and mighty close to a great 
man. But you’re waiting to hear what he 
has to do with mince pies — the Grant kind. 
Well, I’ll tell you. Once he came back, nigh 
starved and poor as Job’s turkey after one of 
his trips in the woods with his Indian friends. 
Never heard about his chumming around 
with the old chiefs? Well, he did, and they 
thought a sight of him. But that ain’t the 
story I’m telling. You see, he’d been away 
a long time, and supplies at home were run- 
ning mighty low. And his wife, she’d got 
most desperate. So what did she do, but take 
all the scraps and odds and ends she had — 
and they were about all she did have, I guess 
— and make ’em into a pie. And it turned 
out nearer a mince pie than any other kind. 
And just when it was done and cooling, and 
the children were licking their lips and rub- 


i8o THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


bing their poor little tummies, home comes 
the Dominie out of the woods. And he sees 
that blessed pie, and he descends upon it like 
a wolf. And he eats it all, every crumb. 
And everybody's so glad to see him alive no- 
body says anything to warn him that he^s 
putting away the family’s dinner — and supper, 
too, I reckon. 

And finally he pushes back the plate, and 
sits quiet for a minute. And then he looks at 
his wife, and his eye sort of twinkles. And 
he says in his way — and it was a good deal of 
a way he had, by all the stories — he says : 
* Wife, as you well know, I hold not with the 
pomps and vanities. But, for sustenance and 
nourishing qualities, yonder pastry appears to 
me to have possessed certain worthy qualities. 
So I do advise that in the event of good serv- 
ice by any of these children here present, they 
be reasonably rewarded with a pie like this 
one.’ 

And that’s the story that has been handed 
down in the family ; and that’s the reason 
we’ve set great store by our mince pies as 
rewards of merit. And so, when Master Sam 
Parker ” — here she beamed on that youth — 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE i8i 


when he did me a very good turn, I just 
naturally made up my mind to treat him by 
the Dominie Pike recipe. Sometimes I’ve 
wondered if he didn’t think a mince pie was 
a funny medal, but now he knows — and you 
friends of his know — why you’re facing this 
mince pie, and why I expect you to treat it 
the way the old Dominie treated his. If you 
leave a crumb of it, I shan’t like it one bit — 
so there I ” 

“ Oh, you won’t be disappointed ! ” Sam 
cried hastily. It — it’s a beautiful pie. And 
— and I like the story that goes with it,” he 
added after the briefest of pauses. 

Mrs. Grant gave him a glance of under- 
standing. Well, now, I thought you might,” 
she said. Boys are funny — you never can 
tell how things’ll strike ’em. And a pie — 
even a mince pie — might worry some of them, 
if it was a — a — well, a present, you know, and 
meant for sort of a good conduct badge, and 
so on. And if they didn’t take it right — why 
— why ” 

Then Sam spoke with decision and empha- 
sis. Don’t you worry, Mrs. Grant,” he said. 
This bully pie is going to be taken right I ” 


1 82 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

The lady's broad-bladed knife drove through 
the crust of the great pie. 

Have those plates ready, Hannah I " she 
warned the maid. ** And don't forget the 
whipped cream — no, nor the maple fluff." 
Again she glanced at her guest of honor. 

Which will you have with the pie? Maybe, 
though, you'd like both." With practiced 
hand she was removing a huge sector and 
placing it upon a plate. Both, did you say ? 
They go together very nicely." 

Two big glass bowls had been set beside the 
monster pie, one filled with cream beaten to a 
delightful fluffiness, the other with something 
very pleasing to the eye and suggesting to 
Varley a light caramel. 

I'll try both," said Sam valiantly. 

^‘Good for you I " exclaimed his hostess. 

That's one comfort of having boys around, 
though. When you take extra trouble to 
please 'em, they'll meet you half-way. 
They've got real appetites, and they know 
what to do with them. Now, I don't believe 
Dominie Pike had whipped cream with his 
pie, but that was his misfortune and not his 
fault. And as for the maple fluff— well, we 


THE GREAT MINCE PIE 183 

set great store by that in Sugar Valley, which 
wouldn^t have been called so if it wasn’t for 
its maple sugar.” 

Paul Varley spoke a bit impetuously : Oh, 
maple sugar ? After dinner we may see how 
it’s made, mayn’t we?” 

Mrs. Grant nodded briskly. Indeed you 
shall I The sap isn’t really running yet, but 
we’vegotall the fixings. . . . Quick I More 
plates, Hannah I ” She was serving the des- 
sert with dextrous speed. Don’t wait, boys I 
. . . And you’ll have both trimmings, 

won’t you ? ” She now was addressing Poke. 
“ Excuse me if I can’t keep all your names 
straight, but you look as if you might have a 
sweet tooth.” 

Yes, ma’am, both, if you please,” said Poke 
heartily. For the moment, at least, he had 
quite forgotten his sorrows. 

Mrs. Grant beamed upon him. ** That’s 
what I like to hear! Give me good, lusty 
boys every time I . . . And it’ll be both for 
you, too, won’t it ? ” she asked, turning to Step. 

The elongated youth quite matched Poke’s 
heartiness. Yes, ma’am, both will do very 
nicely.” 


1 84 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Lon Gates chuckled. Oh, he can stand 
it, all right. Some folks is built to stow it 
sideways, and some to stow it up and down.^^ 
And some take care of it both ways, eh ? ” 
Yes’m, that^s me,’^ quoth Lon, quite un- 
abashed. ’Specially when it comes to Sugar 
Valley mince pies,” he added gallantly. 

It was a deserved tribute. Every boy at 
the table was ready to vow that never had 
there been another mince pie to match the 
toothsome marvel of Sugar Valley cookery, 
composed and baked for the honor and delec- 
tation of Sam Parker and his friends. 


CHAPTER XII 


EXPLORING THE VALLEY 

Probably everybody notices, from time to 
time, how things which would seem to be 
trifling in themselves bring about results 
which are anything but trifling. Paul 
Varley's interest in sugar making was to 
prove a case in point. 

If Varley had not been with the Safety 
First Club that day, it is altogether likely 
that the trip to the maple groves would have 
been omitted. The big dinner, with Sam's 
wonderful mince pie as its climax, left the 
Grants' guests very well pleased with the 
world in general but not at all disposed to 
exertion, especially as the weather showed no 
improvement. Back in the great living-room 
the party settled down in a semicircle before 
the open fireplace, where now a cheery little 
pile of birch was blazing. 

We'll have it for company, anyway," 
Mrs. Grant explained, as she touched a 
185 


1 86 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


match to the kindling. The steam keeps 
us warm enough — and some to spare — days 
like this, but I must say I like the sparkle 
and crackle. Kind of sociable like, ain't it?” 

Yes’m — makes me think of a lively widow 
next door I ” chuckled Lon. 

“ Hm-m ! Don't see as you've got any call, 
Lon Gates, to make jokes about widows,” said 
Mrs. Grant with spirit. “ None of 'em's got 
you yet.” 

“ Well, you never can tell, ma'am. I'm 
young yet.” 

Mrs. Grant shook her head, half reprov- 
ingly. “ I believe you are, Lon. Still, I re- 
member when ” 

‘‘ When I could eat a meal like these 
youngsters have just stowed away,” Lon 
put in. Yes'm, yes'm ; that's so. But I'll 
say this, ma'am : I didn't get many such 
chances in my time to treat myself like an 
anacondy snake same as these youngsters 
have.” 

“Nonsense I They’ve just nice, wholesome 
appetites.” 

Lon chuckled again. “ Well, maybe you're 
right, at that. Fillin' a growin' boy is a good 


EXPLORING THE VALLET 187 

deal like pourin' water into a sieve. But jest 
for the time bein', I'd say, you've got this 
crowd full to the brim." 

The Shark rose rather jerkily, and walked 
up to the profile map. He regarded it with 
a fascination like that the ill-omened vase at 
the hotel had had for Poke. Mr. Grantjoined 
him. 

“ My father made that," said the farmer. 
“ You see, it was this way : One winter he 
was laid up with a broken leg, and wanted 
to have something to keep him busy. He'd 
done some work on the big map at the state 
house — he was a surveyor, among other 
things, you understand — and it struck him 
he’d fix up this affair for our valley. It hap- 
pened he'd run levels all over it, and h^d his 
records ; so he had plenty to go by. And 
they do say this is amazing accurate. Why, 
when the government men came through here 
a few years back " 

‘‘ I know — they mapped all this region," 
the Shark interrupted. Computed eleva- 
tions, set monuments, all that sort of thing." 

Well, they found father had hit mighty 
close to the mark. And their monuments — 


1 88 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 


that^s your word for ^em, eh ? — you can find 
three-four of ’em scattered around. Mostly 
they’re on the hills, but down by the river 
they set one on a little rise. If ’twa’n’t for 
the snow you could find it easily.” 

The Shark ran his eye over the map. The 
valley’s really like a big bowl,” said he, medi- 
tatively. And that’s a mighty narrow out- 
let — place we came through, where the bridges 
are — more like the neck of a bottle. I should 
think the ice would jam there. Then if there 
should be a fiood — say, things would hap- 
pen I ” 

So they would. But the big dam up 
above’ll hold, I guess. You see, years ago 
there was a scheme to turn the whole valley 
into a reservoir, but it’d have taken more 
money than the folks could raise. So they 
went up-stream a few miles, and put in their 
dam there. But we ain’t had any fioods in 
Sugar Valley, for all the mouth of it’s like 
the mouth of a bottle, as you were saying.” 

Exactly I ” quoth the Shark, but kept his 
gaze upon the map. ** And so there is a gov- 
ernment marker down by the river — on a 
little rise ? Wonder if it isn’t about there ? ” 


EXPLORING THE PALLET 189 

Mr. Grant looked at the spot to which the 
Shark pointed. “ You’ve hit it close, young 
man,’’ he declared. 

A very slight, but very satisfied, smile less- 
ened the severity of the Shark’s expression. 

I felt pretty sure I had,” he remarked com- 
placently. 

Mrs. Grant turned from poking the fire and 
mounding the birch logs to her fancy. 

“ No ; we don’t have fioods often in Sugar 
Valley,” she observed, “ though anybody 
might think we would. Somehow, the river 
takes care of the water. Of course, ’way back 
in Dominie Pike’s time, they did have some 
amazing freshets — he told about ’em in his 
diary, you know.” 

Tom Orkney bent forward. “ Then you’ve 
seen the diary, ma’am ? ” he inquired eagerly. 

Mrs. Grant laughed. “ Bless your heart, 
no ! It disappeared years before I happened 
along.” 

“ Oh I ” There was a disappointment in 
Tom’s tone, which didn’t escape Mrs. Grant’s 
attention. 

It is an awful pity ! ” she said. The 
Dominie, I guess, put down ’most everything 


1 90 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

that happened, and if folks could find his 
book now, they could settle a lot of points 
they’re disputing. But seventy-five or eighty 
years ago people didn’t set such store by old 
things — they were too glad to get new ones, 
maybe — and so lots of stuff was lost that 
would bring high prices nowadays. Why, 
the diary just knocked about, as you might 
say — or part of it did. Mr. Grant’s grand- 
father always insisted that the Dominie filled 
three or four note-books, and that the one 
folks saw — that’s the one, by the way, all the 
stories told now are based on — why, he always 
argued that that was the last, or next to the 
last, of the set. ’Tis a fact it didn’t tell much 
about the very earliest days of the settlement 
— I’ve heard that point spoken of. But, any- 
way, it passed from hand to hand in the 
family, and was borrowed by neighbors, and 
got all thumbed and dog-eared, and worn and 
tattered ; and, finally, it just dropped out of 
sight. Too bad, but that’s what happened.” 

'' Nobody copied it ? ” asked Tom. 

Why — why, yes and no. Nobody copied 
it all — nobody thought it worth the trouble 
in those days. I’ve seen in old letters lots of 


EXPLORING THE VALLET 191 

references to it and its stories, and once or 
twice IVe come across short quotations from 
it. But there’s another mix-up — in trying to 
find out about it now, I mean. You see, along 
about 1800 there was a Grant who was a great 
practical joker, and sort of a bookish fellow, 
too ; and, somehow, the combination set him 
to writing a burlesque diary. It was about 
people of his time, but he imitated the Domi- 
nie’s style, and he was a clever hand at it ; 
and what with most of the family names 
around here being the same as in the Domi- 
nie’s day and the imitation being so good — 
well, after a while even folks who’d read both 
got sort of mixed as to what was in which. 
So now nobody really knows where truth ends 
and jokes begin in half the traditions of the 
town. What makes it worse is that the 
Grant diary disappeared, too. Very likely 
the man who wrote it destroyed it, when he 
got older, and took a more serious view of life.” 

Oh I ” said Orkney again. There was still 
disappointment in his tone. 

We’ve looked high and low for both books, 
of course ; but I guess they’re lost for good. 
This valley, you know, was where the Dominie 


192 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

settled. He gave it the name it^s had ever 
since — Sugar Valley. That was because he 
found the Indians here were making sugar. 
Mighty poor stuff it was, probably, and more 
than half dirt. But it was sweet, and real 
sugar was hard to get. Maybe that was one 
reason the Dominie stayed here, and built 
a cabin, and then a house, and finally a 
better house. Oh, it was quite a mansion, 
that last house of his was — a sort of show 
place, though I guess there werenT many 
people to show it to. But it was made of 
sawed boards instead of logs, and there was a 
wonderful great chimney, and the fireplaces 
were as big as some rooms are nowadays. 
Yes, and one of the up-stairs rooms had a fire- 
place ; and that, I guess, was a sort of eighth 
wonder of the world — this part of the world, 
anyway. But here I am, talking as if you 
couldn't see the place for yourselves, if you 
want to." 

“Then it still stands? " Orkney asked. 

“ Indeed it does I Nobody has lived in it 
for years and years, but it's still there — nearly 
a mile from here, and close to the river. Of 
course, it's rickety, but it doesn't tumble down, 


EXPLORING THE VALLEY 193 

and I don^t see any signs that it^s likely to. 
Once or twice we've talked about restoring it, 
and fixing it up, but we've never got around 
to do it ; though some folks say we ought to 
turn it into a sort of historical museum. But, 
as I say, we haven't got to it. And as for ex- 
ploring the old place — why, why — a miserable 
day like this " 

Mrs. Grant hesitated. As she chanced to be 
looking at Varley, it was he who made answer 
to her unfinished question. 

“Oh, another time will do just as well. 
And it was the sugar making that we'd espe- 
cially like to see, you know." 

“ You're interested in that, then ? " 

“ Very interested ; it'll be all new to me. 
And — and" — Paul smiled engagingly — “and 
your maple fluff, Mrs. Grant, was awfully 
good. It made a fellow all the more anxious 
to find out about the flavoring." 

Mrs. Grant was pleased, and showed it. 
“So you liked it, then? Well, 'tis kind of 
tasty, though there's really nothing to it but 
whipped white of egg, and just a mite of 
cream, and a dash of maple. But put it on 
mince pie " 


194 the SAFETT first CLUB 

Geeminy, but it's cracking good I " Step 
interrupted. 

Why, I'd call it grand," quoth Poke sol- 
emnly, and licked his lips reminiscently. 

Then Mrs. Grant laughed. Ha, ha, ha I 
I vow, but there'd be some satisfaction in cook- 
ing for a lot of folks like you boys I But if 
you want to see where the maple comes from 
— why, I don't want to turn you out in the 
wet, but you ought to be looking around while 
the light's as good as it's likely to be this day. 
And so, if Mr. Grant is ready, and you're ready 
to start — why, that's just what I'd do if I were 
you." 

Now, probably there was nobody concerned 
— except Varley, of course — who wouldn’t 
have been willing to omit the expedition. 
But Paul was genuinely interested, and so 
evident was this fact that none of the others 
were willing to offer objection. Caps and 
overcoats and overshoes were brought out and 
donned, and with Mr. Grant in the lead the 
party streamed out of the house. 

‘‘ Don't stay too long I " Mrs. Grant called 
after them. My, but it's getting to be weepy 
weather I Well, I'll have something warm 


EXPLORING THE VALLET 195 

and comforting waiting for you when you 
come back/’ 

“ Weepy weather,” indeed, fitted the case. 
The air was milder than ever, and more 
charged with moisture. Eaves were dripping, 
and little streams trickled down the trunks 
of the trees ; under foot the melting snow lay 
in a dwindling, soggy mass. What was more, 
a thin drizzle was falling, hardly to be called 
a rain, but curiously searching and penetrat- 
ing in its dampness. 

Mr. Grant glanced at the leaden sky, and 
shook his head. 

“ Well, if I had to guess. I’d say things were 
going to be worse before they’re better,” he re- 
marked. Way the wind’s been hanging in 
the east ” 

“ More southeast, ain’t it ? ” Lon in- 
quired. 

“ In-between. Vane on the barn ain’t 
hardly wiggled all day. And it’s pointing 
right to where our big rains hail from. 
Funny we haven’t had it harder. Up-river 
they’ve been getting a reg’lar downpour, ac- 
cordin’ to what they’re telephoning.” 

“ Umph I ” said Lon. Then you’ll bo 


196 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

havin’ a sight o’ water for this river o’ yourn 
to take care of, won’t you?” 

“ Well, it’s done just that every spring,” 
said Mr. Grant. 

“ Mebbe. Only I’ve got kinder a notion 
from the feel o’ things that there’s a reg’lar 
weather buster brewin’.” 

“ My notion ain’t so far from yours,” Mr. 
Grant agreed. Then he turned to the boys. 

We’ll take a look at what we call the 
‘ Island ’ — that’s where we make most of our 
sugar. Got some trees tapped already, though 
the season ain’t really begun yet. But it’ll 
be easier to show you than to tell you about 
it. So come along I ” 

They followed him, in Indian file, along a 
well-beaten path through the snow, a path 
that wound and twisted to avoid groves and 
patches of thicket. The fioor of the valley 
seemed to be almost level, after the descent 
from the natural terrace on which the house 
stood ; but, plainly enough, not much of the 
land was under cultivation. Except for the 
fact that their course was generally toward 
the river, the boys had little idea of their 
destination, and Sam, with the teachings of 


EXPLORING THE VALLET 197 

Safety First in mind, remarked to himself 
that here was a stretch of country in which a 
fellow might very easily lose his bearings. 
Not that he had any thought of danger. Even 
if anybody lost his way, temporarily, he could 
steer for the hills and so, sooner or later, come 
to higher ground and the road. So he trudged 
along, digging his chin deep in his upturned 
collar, and making the best of unpleasant 
conditions. 

Sam noticed, presently, that one at least of 
his companions was showing signs of losing 
heart. Poke had started out near the head of 
the line, and, comforted by food and warmth, 
had appeared to be in excellent spirits. Very 
soon, however, the melancholy weather had 
its effect. Probably it reminded him of his 
gloomy prospects and the staggering bill for 
the big vase. At any rate, his steps lagged. 
One after another passed him, until he was 
the last straggler in the line. As it proved, 
he was far behind the rest of the party when 
they came to the “ Island. 

As has been said, this was not an island, 
but a low knoll, covered by a fine growth of 
maples. On one side stood a small building. 


198 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

half house, half shed ; and here was an equip- 
ment of great kettles for boiling down ” the 
collected sap. There was an orderly pile of 
new cans, in which the syrup would be 
shipped, and there were boxes awaiting the 
sugar, to which part of the yield of the grove 
would be reduced. 

“ I hear they Ve got a lot of newfangled 
modern improvements,'^ Mr. Grant remarked, 
but we stick to the old ways. Of course, we 
ain't big producers and shippers, but we man- 
age 'most every season to do something of a 
trade. And now I'll show you how we do it." 

With that he took Varley in hand. He dis- 
played the little spouts which were placed in 
holes in the maple trunks, and along which 
the sap ran to pails. Then he showed big 
buckets, into which collectors emptied the 
contents of the pails, and which brought their 
gallons and gallons of the thin sap to the 
kettles, there to be reduced in volume and 
increased in density until the required stand- 
ard for syrup was reached. 

“ This isn't a big plant," he explained, but, 
after all, we're pretty busy around here, when 
things get going. Fires have to be kept up, 


EXPLORING THE PALLET 199 

and sap has to be brought in ; and of course 
it’s a short season, at the best, and so there 
has to be a hustle. When the sap starts run- 
ning — why, we have to run, too.” 

“ Then it hasn’t started yet? ” Varley asked. 

It’s starting — the warm spell sets it go- 
ing. But ’tain’t a full flow yet. You can see 
we’ve got some trees tapped ” — he pointed to 
a near-by part of the grove — and if a freeze 
don’t come to check things, we’ll be in full 
swing a good deal quicker than I’d care to 
be. Somehow, I don’t like the looks of the 
weather, or the feel of it, for that matter.” 

Varley was quite ready to agree with Mr. 
Grant on this score. The dismal day was 
growing more dismal still ; the drizzle was 
heavier ; the dense gray clouds seemed to 
hang lower. The other boys, to whom a 
sugar camp was an old story, were huddling 
in the lee of the house. Varley noticed that 
Poke, most sorrowful of face, was in low-toned 
talk with Step, who seemed rapidly to be be- 
coming as melancholy as his chum. Then 
Sam joined the pair, and the whispered con- 
versation went on, with no sign of rising 
spirits. 


200 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Varley was clever enough to make a shrewd 
guess at the situation. Doubtless, sooner or 
later, he would hear all about it, but just 
now the club was keeping its own counsel. 
So he remained near Mr. Grant until the 
latter was called into the house by his hired 
man, who seemed to be unable to find a big 
ladle, of which he announced himself in 
search. 

Left alone, Paul took note that the Shark, 
who was peering at the lower ground about 
the “ Island ’’ and mumbling to himself in 
dissatisfied fashion, appeared to be on the 
point of starting on some small expedition of 
his own. Paul crossed to him. 

WhaPs up? '' he inquired. “ Looking for 
something? 

The Shark merely grunted. 

What is it? 

The marker.^^ 

^‘Eh?^’ Paul had not been especially im- 
pressed by the map or the talk about it. 

Can't you hear ? " snapped the Shark. 
“ Marker, I said — marker the government 
surveyors left. Bet you I know where it 
is I" 


EXPLORING THE VALLET 201 


Oh I do you ? said Varley, a little 
vaguely. 

The Shark snorted, Huh I Sure I know 
— if the survey and the map match. Ought 
to be out there.” And he pointed into the 
mists toward the river. 

“ Oh, had it ? ” 

Of course it had I And I^m going to 
find it.” 

ril help you,” said Varley readily. 

Shucks ! You don’t know how,” said the 
Shark bluntly. 

Varley was good-natured. Moreover, the 
youthful mathematician appealed to his sense 
of humor. 

Well, maybe you can show me how.” 

“ That’s so,” the Shark admitted. 

Then I may come along ? ” 

If you’d like to,” quoth the Shark, half- 
grudgingly, and started off. 

Varley followed him. Mr. Grant and his 
helper were still in the house, and the other 
boys were grouped about Poke. None of 
them, as it happened, observed the departure 
of the two. 


CHAPTER XIII 


THE SHAKK DEMONSTKATES 

Varley splashed after his leader. No other 
word would quite describe the sort of journey 
he made at the heels of the Shark ; for as soon 
as they had descended from the slight rise of 
the Island/^ and come to the lower levels, 
they encountered many evidences of the rapid 
progress of the thaw. Probably even in sum- 
mer there was more or less swampy ground 
hereabouts ; but now water from the melting 
snow stood in shallow pools, through which 
the Shark marched unconcernedly. He was 
wearing big overshoes, with tops of water- 
proof cloth buckled tightly about the bottoms 
of his trousers, and appeared to give no more 
thought to the puddles underfoot than he 
gave to the rain. 

Paul had a somewhat different equipment, 
inasmuch as he was shod in leather only, but 
leather prepared by some new process for 
rough wear and guaranteed to be water-tight. 

202 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 203 

So far the new shoes— they laced well up his 
legs — had seemed to meet the guarantee, but 
he began to wonder if they would continue to 
do so. Certainly he was putting them to an 
extreme test, as, for that matter, he was test- 
ing the qualities of his heavy outer jacket. 
Indeed, he smiled more than once to himself 
as he thought how curiously unlike his city 
experience it was to be trudging along on such 
a day, and in such a place, and, it may be 
added, in such company. For the Shark 
surely was an odd stick. He hardly opened 
his lips as they tramped along, but Varley 
found him entertaining, for all that. 

Thick clumps of undergrowth here and 
there prevented a march in a straight course, 
and also so narrowed the field of view that 
Paul had small motion of the direction they 
were taking. The Shark, however, went along 
quite as if he were on familiar ground. To 
be sure, he glanced about him frequently, but 
with an effect, almost, of picking up land- 
marks ; and, presently, quickening his pace, 
headed straight into a hedge-like line of 
bushes, forced a passage through them, and 
gave a grunt of satisfaction. 


204 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Ugh I Hit it about right. Not too far 
up — that^s the main thing.’' 

Paul overtook him, and halting, as he had 
halted, looked out upon the Sugar River. It 
was a sizable stream at all times, but now, 
swollen by melting snow, it was a river of 
imposing proportions. It was running almost 
bank full. There was a great deal of ice com- 
ing down-stream ; the cakes, in some cases, 
were like small floes. The current was swift, 
and the cakes ground and grated together 
savagely. Moreover, the water was of a 
muddy color, which could have had nothing 
to do with its temperature, but which, for some 
reason Paul didn’t understand, made him 
shiver. 

Whew I I’d hate to have to take a dip 
in there,” said he. 

The Shark nodded absently. He was giv- 
ing a moment to studying the opposite 
bank. 

Of course — too cold. ... Be too cold 
for two months yet,” he added. 

Varley pushed the collar of his coat higher. 
If he were not mistaken, the rain was increas- 
ing. Funny how sight of that yellow, rush- 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 205 

ing river made everything seem more dismal 
than ever, he reflected. 

Somewhere in the dim distance the Shark 
made out what he had been looking for. 

“Um-ml That’ll be it — highest ground 
anywhere around. Now, if I can get a 

line ” He broke off the sentence, and, 

turning, stared in the direction in which, by 
Varley’s hazy reckoning, lay the Grant farm- 
house. 

What are you up to?” Paul inquired. • 

“ What do you s’pose ? ” countered the Shark 
testily. Think I’m looking for birds’ nests ? ” 

“Oh, no,” Varley answered humbly; just 
then he was not disposed to controversy. 
His tone was not lost upon the Shark, who 
said, quickly and almost apologetically : 

“ Oh, I say I ’Tisn’t as if you knew more — 
er — er — as if you were better posted, I mean. 
Ought to have thought of that I But I’m 
getting my bearings. And I am getting 
them, too.” 

“ Your bearings ? ” Paul repeated, doubt- 
fully. “ Then you’ve been here before.” 

“ Never in my life. Saw that map, though, 
didn’t I?” 


2o6 the SAFETT first CLUB 

The map? But — but you didn’t commit 
it to memory, did you ? ” 

“ Only the most important part of it,” said 
the Shark simply. “ Few of the elevations — 
that sort of thing. They were marked down 
plain as print.” 

‘‘ I didn’t notice ’em,” Varley confessed. 

The Shark’s lip curled. “ Huh I What do 
you have eyes for ? ” Then he recalled that 
the other was in a sense a stranger and a guest. 
“ I mean, it’s a mighty good scheme, when 
you see figures, to jot ’em down in memory. 
Then, if you’ve got nothing else to do, you 
can have fun thinking ’em over and setting 
yourself little problems with ’em. Now, this 
valley’d fool you. Lot less slope to the fioor 
of it than you’d suppose. And the way the 
hills line up — say, though, didn’t notice that, 
either, did you ? ” 

'' I — I guess I didn’t.” 

It would have paid you. That govern- 
ment marker we’re looking for is right between 
the two highest hills — one on each side of the 
valley. That is, it is, if the map’s accurate. 
So far, everything’s working out all right. I 
schemed on hitting the river a little below the 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 207 

real point and working up, and I think Vve 
done it. Now let's get along. Ready ? " 
“After you," said Varley. 

“ Good ! " cried the Shark, and off he set, 
not keeping to the bank of the stream, but 
bearing away from it on a long diagonal. 

Varley pursued him. By this time there 
could be no doubt that the rain was heavier. 
Underfoot, even where there were no puddles, 
the snow was a clammy mush of penetrating 
chill. Varley began to suspect the worth of 
that guarantee of his new shoes. Very gladly 
he would have turned back, had he been 
alone ; but, being with the Shark, he followed 
his leader, who plodded on, giving no heed to 
rain or snow. Again they came to clumps of 
brush, and made detours about them. At 
intervals the Shark halted briefly, scanned 
his surroundings, grunted and went on. 
Varley felt sure they were getting far from the 
island, though he would have been put to it 
to make an estimate of the distance. 

The Shark began to slacken pace. His 
halts for observation were more frequent and 
longer. Once or twice he even turned back 
briefly, working over ground they had crossed 


2o8 the SAFETT first CLUB 

a moment before. Varley saw that a frown 
was on his face. 

Are we — are we 'most there ? " he inquired 
solicitously. 

Huh ! Ought to be." 

Varley cast a glance about him. “I don't 
see anything of that — that marker, you called 
it, didn't you ? " 

Very deliberately the Shark removed his 
spectacles, and pulled out a handkerchief. 
He cleared the lenses of moisture, set them 
before his eyes, peered — or tried to peer — 
at the hills. But the thickening rain hid 
them. 

‘‘ Huh I Closing in, ain't it? " he growled. 

“ It surely is I " Varley agreed. 

Then I'll have to depend more on dead 
reckoning. Let's see I Um — um ! Allowing 

for the Look here I " The Shark 

whipped about to glare at his companion. 

Look here I Don't suppose that map's in- 
accurate, do you ? " 

I don't know." 

“ Well, I'm going to know — and know 
mighty quick," said the Shark grimly. 

That marker ought to be within a hundred 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 209 

yards — no, within fifty — of where we are this 
minute. Maybe there^s snow over it. Still, 
it ought to show — way the stuff's melting and 
going off, you know.'' 

Varley said Yes," because he did not know 
what else to say. He was about to add that it 
was raining a lot harder, when his comrade 
gave a shout, and, darting across the little 
open space in which they chanced to be, 
dropped on his knees beside an object just 
protruding from the remains of a snow bank. 
With frantic haste the Shark tore away the 
heavy snow, revealing a low stone post, bear- 
ing a cryptical, chiseled inscription, of which 
Varley could make nothing. But the Shark 
was raising a shout of jubilation. 

Bully for us I Bully for the map I It's 
all right I We're all right 1 Say, ain't this 
cracking good sport, Varley ? " 

Paul tried to feign friendly enthusiasm, but 
he was too damp to be very successful. 

It — it's wonderful. Why — why — why, 
you didn't know anything about this place 
except what that map told you, and you came 
straight to — to where you wanted to come I 
I — I never heard anything like it I " 


210 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


The Shark patted the stone with a demon- 
strative affection Varley hadn’t dreamed he 
was capable of displaying. 

“ Bully old rock I Sure you’d be here, where 
you belong I Oh, but I say I This is just the 
greatest sport outdoors I ” 

“ But I don’t see — the marker wasn’t shown 
on the map — it was put in long after the map 

was made — I don’t understand ” 

The Shark interrupted Varley’s broken 
speech. 

“ Of course ! But naturally it would be put 
about here by the government men. If you’d 
taken a good look at the map, you’d have 
seen why. You’d get the line. Then Mr. 
Grant as good as pointed out the spot. After 
that it was just a case of getting the bearings 
in your head and keeping them there — easy 
as falling off a log, wasn’t it ? ” 

“ It seems to have been easy for you,” Paul 
confessed. ** But — but now that this is done, 
what — er — er — what do you want to do 
next?” 

I don’t care — anything,” shrugged the 
Shark. 

A dash of rain drove into Paul’s face, and 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 21 1 


gave a hardly needed hint of the desirability of 
shelter. 

“ It’s getting pretty damp/’ he said. “ We 
ought to go back, or find some cover till 
there’s a let up in the shower.” 

Oh, all right,” said the Shark carelessly. 

Just as you please — ’tis getting to be quite a 
rain, eh ? ” 

Yes, it is. And it’s going to be a good 
deal of a tramp.” 

Thereupon the Shark squinted at the leaden 
sky. 

“ Umph ! Doesn’t show signs of clearing, I 
must say. Still, the weather’s the weather, 
and what we know about it doesn’t make an 
exact science. Maybe there’ll be a lull. Mean- 
while, I suppose we might as well make for 
the house.” 

“ You mean the Grants’ house or the sugar 
camp? ” 

Neither. There’s another, nearer by.” 

Oh I ” said Varley, and, in spite of him, 
the doubt in his tone was manifest. 

Case of map again,” quoth the Shark. 

House indicated somewhere ’round here. 
Course, I didn’t pay the same attention to it 


212 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


that I would to something that really mat- 
tered. But if you’d like to hunt it up, I’m 
willing enough to hunt with you.” 

I’d very much like to ! ” 

The Shark glanced about him. He furrowed 
his brow reflectively. 

“ Let’s see, now I Farther along it was. 
Yes, and off to the left, I should say — away 
from the river, that is. Um, um ! . . . 

Hullo 1 What’s that?” 

The that ” had been a sound, faint and far 
off, but easily to be known as the whistle of a 
locomotive. Varley said as much, and said it 
a bit testily ; the rain was seemingly growing 
heavier every minute, and he was becoming 
impatient to seek shelter. 

Umph I I knew that, too — any chump’d 
know it,” growled the Shark. But was it 
from a main line engine or one of the old 
machines on the branch ? ” 

Paul stared at him. What difference ” 

he began hotly ; then changed his tone. Say, 
you don’t mean to tell me you know all the 
engines by their whistles ? ” 

“ No ; not all of ’em — my ear isn’t true 
enough,” the Shark confessed. I know a 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 213 

fellow, though, who can spot every last one as 
far as he can hear it. He's got absolute pitch." 
“Eh?" 

“ If he hears a sound he can tell you what's 
the note — something like that, anyway. Bully 
thing to be able to do I Still, you don't have 
to have the knack to get a lot out of music. 
I'm going in for music, by the way, when I 
have time." 

“ Oh I " said Paul, dubiously. Somehow, 
the Shark never had suggested to him one 
of musical tastes. “ So you're going in for 
it ? Oh, yes I And it'll be — er — er — violin, 
or piano, or — or " 

“ Shucks, no I " The Shark's lip curled 
scornfully. “ What'd I want to play any- 
thing for ? And tunes ? Bah ! I can’t tell one 
from another. And what's the use of bother- 
ing to learn to play one instrument, when 
you can have a whole band going for you by 
just starting up a phonograph? But they 
tell me there's really some good stuff under 
it all — real mathematics, I mean, when you 
get into counterpoint, or whatever it is they 
call it. So I'm going to take it up when I 
have a little leisure." 


214 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Oh, I see — I get you,’’ said Paul. Then 
he was reminded by another dash of rain that 
this was hardly a time for gossip in the open. 

Now, though, how about that house ? ” 

Well, we’ll look for it,” said the Shark ; 
and set off in the direction in which he be- 
lieved the building to be. 

Paul followed him. He noticed that his 
guide went more slowly than before, and 
that he veered from left to right, and then 
from right to left, as if desiring to cover a 
wider strip of territory. The brush was not 
especially dense, but it was thick enough to 
limit the field of view, so that often it was 
impossible to see more than a few score yards 
ahead. Suddenly, however, the Shark pulled 
up. 

Huh I That’ll be the place, I guess,” he 
announced. 

Paul made out dimly the line of a roof ; 
but what with the rain, and the trees, he 
could do little more than make it out. It 
was not, in fact, until he and the Shark were 
close to the building that they obtained a fair 
view of it. 

The house, evidently, was very old. So 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 215 

much could be guessed from the mossy roof 
and weatherbeaten walls. Midway of the 
ridge-pole rose a squat and very thick chim- 
ney. In front the house showed two stories, 
but in the rear the roof ran in a great sweep 
from the ridge-pole to within a couple of feet 
of the tops of the ground-floor windows. 
There was no porch, and, indeed, the house 
was most severely plain in all its outlines. 

Huh I Old timer,^^ the Shark observed. 
** And nobody home I 

Presumably it had been a good many years 
since anybody had been at home there. Still, 
the place was not utterly neglected in ap- 
pearance. The stout shutters at the widows 
were closed, and the front door was boarded 
up ; what was once the front yard had been 
kept clear of brush. 

Varley surveyed the premises with a feel- 
ing of helplessness ; they seemed to offer no 
more shelter than was given by the leafless 
boughs of the trees. 

No ; nobody home I he echoed. 

The Shark grunted. Ugh I Say, Tis get- 
ting to rain I ” One might suppose from his 
tone that this was a fresh discovery. 


2i6 the SAFETT first CLUB 

Varley nodded. As he did so, the motion 
sent a shower of drops flying from the visor 
of his cap. 

The Shark gave a moment or two to con- 
sideration of the weather signs. Then he 
shook himself much in the manner of a dog 
emerging from a pond. 

Huh I Can’t say it looks like clearing. 
Still, you never can tell. So long’s we’re 
here, we might as well crawl in somewhere 
out of the wet, and wait a while.” 

Where’s a place to crawl in ? ” 

The Shark stepped up to the door and 
gave a tug at the boards. They were tightly 
nailed. 

Huh I Nothing doing there,” he re- 
ported. 

“ Nothing doing,” Varley repeated dismally. 
His courage was good enough, but he was be- 
coming acutely conscious of the physical draw- 
backs of the situation. 

The Shark tried the nearest shutter. Its 
rusty catch proved obstinate, but at last gave 
way, and the shutter swung, revealing the 
small panes of the window. One or two 
were broken. Quite coolly the Shark smashed 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 217 

another, and cautiously thrust a hand through 
the opening. 

“What I You’re going to break in?’’ 
Varley demanded. 

“ I sure am I If I can find the thing that 
fastens this window I ” quoth the Shark. “ No 
other way — that is, if we mean to get inside. 
We can pay for any damage we do afterward, 
but just now our business is to get somewhere 
out of the wet.” 

A sharp increase in the downpour — and by 
this time it undeniably was a downpour — 
served to emphasize his words. Varley sprang 
to his assistance, and the Shark finding the 
nail which had served as a lock, their united 
efforts contrived to raise the lower sash. The 
Shark climbed and wriggled, and Varley 
boosted so energetically that at last the ex- 
plorer shot through the opening and into the 
dimness of the room beyond. He was up in 
a minute and stretching out a hand to his 
ally, who lost no time in climbing after 
him. 

“ Whew I What faded-out air I ” gasped the 
Shark. 

“ Yes ; it’s all of that I ” Varley agreed. 


2i8 the SAFETT first CLUB 


Indeed, the room was close and stuffy, as 
rooms long closed are likely to be. But it 
was a dry, if musty, closeness, a deal better 
than the wetness of out-of-doors. The Shark 
shook himself again. 

“ Gorry I Say, but this beats the other 
^ thing,^^ he declared. Bet you that window 
hasnT been open, though, in ten years ; though 
the folks seem to have kept a lot of furniture 
here.” 

Varley peered into the shadows. He could 
make out the shapes of a settle and a table, 
and something he took to be an ancient chest 
of drawers. Also he was quite sure there was 
a fireplace. Cold and black as it was, it drew 
him like a magnet. He started across the 
room, and now the Shark followed instead 
of led. 

“ Now look — Fve the luck to have a box 
of matches along,” said he. If we can find 
something to burn we ” 

There he broke off, as Varley uttered a 
startled exclamation. 

Beneath the feet of the explorers was an 
ominous creak. It turned swiftly to the 
grating sound of breaking wood. The floor 


THE SHARK DEMONSTRATES 219 

sagged ; the old boards parted. The boys, 
clawing vainly for support, shot down through 
the aperture into a cellar, which was like a 
pit for blackness. 


CHAPTER XIV 


THE HUNT 

I TELL you, iPs the only way. Don’t you 
suppose I’ve figured and figured on what to 
do? Well, I have; and there’s just one an- 
swer. I can’t dodge it, and I won’t try. I’ve 
got to pay up, and I will pay up — somehow.” 

Poke said it bravely enough and deter- 
minedly — all except the last word. The 
“ somehow ” came after a little pause, and 
dragged at that. 

“ But you can’t I ” blurted the Trojan. 
‘‘You’ve just told us you couldn’t raise the 
money.” 

Poke had his back against the wall of the 
sugar camp ; literally and figuratively he was 
like one making a last stand. 

“ But I’ve got to raise it — somehow.” 
Again there was the brief pause ; again there 
was a catch in his voice. “ I’m responsible ; 
I smashed that vase. I didn’t mean to smash 
it, but that makes no difference.” 

220 


THE HUNT 


221 


^‘Umphl Vm not so sure of that,” ob- 
jected the Trojan. 

“ That’s what I say, too,” Step put in. 

Seems as if there ought to be some way ” 

“ What I To wriggle out of it ? ” Poke de- 
manded indignantly. 

** Why — why — I — I wouldn’t exactly ** 

It’s what you meant, all the same.” 

“ No ; ’tisn’t I ” Step insisted. 

Well, then, what did you mean ? ” 

Why, I — well, it’s sort of hard to put into 
words, but ” 

“ Yes ; I guess it is hard,” Poke interrupted. 

Then Sam Parker stepped forward. He had 
not been taking a very active part in the dis- 
cussion, but had been listening intently. 

“ Hold on, fellows I ” said he. This isn’t 
getting us anywhere. I suppose we had to 
talk this thing out, but now we’ve done it. 
All hands know what’s happened to Poke and 
why he’s so down in the mouth. We’re sorry 
for him, every one of us, but there’s no use 
crying over spilt milk or broken vases ; and 


Hey ! Who’s crying? ” Poke protested. 

** Oh, that’s just a figure of speech,” said 


222 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Sam. “ Forget it, Poke ! Let's get down to 
business, everybody. Now, I’m not so all- 
fired sure Poke really ought to pay all that 
money. The vase ought to have been in a 
safer place, if it was so valuable. And I think 
that’s Varley’s notion, too ; and he’s sort of 
posted, as you might say, about a lot of 
things.” 

“ Oh, Varley I ” exclaimed Poke, and 
glanced about him a little apprehensively. 

“ Varley’s out of the way,” Sam went on. 
“ I guess he understood the club would want 
a chance to hold a council of war, for he could 
see that something had gone wrong, even if 
he didn’t know just what it was.” 

The Shark’s missing, too,” Herman Boyd 
remarked. 

Sam nodded. So he is. Probably they’ve 
strolled off together. That’s all right, though. 
The Shark will stand for anything the rest of 
us decide to do. It’s a job for all the club, of 
course, and ” 

How do you make that out ? ” Poke 
asked. 

Easily enough. You broke the vase — 
that’s true. But you wouldn’t have broken 


THE HUNT 


223 

it, for you wouldn't have been at the hotel or 
gi ving a dinner if it hadn't been that you wanted 
to square the club's account with Varley." 

“ Now you're talking sense, Sam 1 " cried 
the Trojan. 

“ I know I am. And it's only sensible for 
us to treat this thing as hitting the whole 
club. . . . That's all right, Poke I You 

can say it hit you first, but we feel it hit us 
afterward. So we ought to pull together, and 
we will. Now if we all chip in " 

I can put in ten dollars," said Tom Orkney 
promptly. 

“ Gee I Wish I could do as well I " cried 
Herman Boyd. ** Maybe, though, I can 
scrape together five or six dollars. I've sort 
of run ahead of my allowance, or I'd promise 
more." 

I'm in the same box with Herman," the 
Trojan declared. 

Step coughed uneasily. As the especial 
crony of Poke, he really should be taking a 
leading part in these measures of financial 
relief. 

Ahem, ahem I I — I — er — er — course you 
fellows know where I stand. And I'd give 


224 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

my eye-teeth to help Poke out of the scrape. 
But it just happens I'm awfully short of cash. 
But I tell you what Pll do : I'll subscribe as 
much as the next fellow, and I'll put it in, if 
only I can borrow it somewhere." 

“ All right," said Sam hastily, and shook 
his head warningly at the Trojan who was 
beginning to grin. 

Again Step cleared his throat. “ Ahem I 
Poke's folks don't want to hear about this, 
you understand — that is, we don't want 'em 
to hear about it. You see, what with one 
thing and another lately — well, things have 
been breaking mighty badly for Poke at the 
house — things that weren't really his fault, if 
you'd look at 'em right, but that just kept 
piling up on him. And so — well, this isn't 
any time for more bad news to arrive." 

“ I should say not I " groaned Poke soul- 
fully. 

Sam had been doing some mental arith- 
metic. Look here, everybody I With what 
I can chip in, and what the Shark'll do, I 
feel sure we can raise sixty or seventy dollars 
That ought to be enough for sort of a first 
payment." 


THE HUNT 


225 

** But I ought to make the payment/’ Poke 
insisted. 

“ You can’t/’ Sam told him bluntly. 

That’s why we’re going to help you. And 
we’ll gain a little time for you to look around 
and scheme out ways to get the rest of the 
money.” 

In spite of this prospect of problems to 
come the face of Poke brightened a trifle. 
But it quickly clouded again. 

“ Oh, I say, you fellows I ” Poke said 
sharply. I’m ready to take help from any 
of you, or from all of you — as a loan, of 
course ; I’ll pay you back — but Varley must 
be kept out of this ! It — it isn’t his funeral.” 

Right-0 I ” Sam agreed. 

** No ; this is our party — he’s an outsider I ” 
chimed in the Trojan. 

The others nodded approval. Here was a 
matter purely for the Safety First Club. 

** Then we’ll call so much settled,” quoth 
Sam. But, talking about Varley, where is 
he ? ” He peered hard at the grove of maples, 
and turned again to his companions. “ I 
haven’t a notion where he can be, or the 
Shark, either.” 


226 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 


Oh, I guess they^ll turn up soon enough, 
said Step. '' Nowhere else for them to go, is 
there ? 

“ Not in this rain.'' 

Rain I " The Trojan caught at the word. 

Rain I Sam, you've said it I It's coming 
down, good and plenty. And ain't it funny 
we were all so busy with Poke's affairs that 
we didn't notice it? " 

This was quite true. So absorbed had the 
club been that no heed had been paid by any 
of the boys to the steady increase in the rain. 

Again Sam glanced about. I don’t be- 
lieve we ought to stay here any longer. It's 
going to be a job to get back to town, and we 
ought to be making a start." 

As if in answer to a call, Mr. Grant came 
out of the camp. 

Whew ! but this is getting to be a reg’lar 
wet spell," he remarked. And I don't see 
any signs of a let-up. Too bad you boys 
should strike such a day to visit Sugar 
Valley ! " 

We're sorry, too, sir," Sam assured him. 

Mr. Grant looked the group over. Let’s 
see I All here, are you ? . . . No ; must 


THE HUNT 


227 

be two-three missing. What’s become of that 
little chap with the glasses and the other 
fellow who wanted to know all about sugar 
making ? ” 

They must have gone back, sir.” 

Umph I Don’t know but they did the 
sensible thing. I hadn’t realized how it was 
getting to rain.” 

We didn’t notice, either. And as for 
Varley and the Shark — that’s our nickname 
for the fellow with the glasses, you know — 
I suppose they must have started for the 
house? ” 

Sam made his statement more than half a 
question. Mr. Grant treated it as one. 

“ Yes, I guess they must have. They’d 
looked around here, and there ain’t much to 
see except the camp. Yes ; I dare say they’re 
toasting their shins by the fire this minute. 
And I reckon we might as well follow ’em.” 

Nobody was disposed to delay ; nor, for 
that matter, was there any lingering on the 
way to the farmhouse. Heads bowed to the 
storm, collars turned high, hands buried in 
pockets, the party splashed across the fields 
with Mr. Grant in the lead. 


228 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Mrs. Grant was ready to receive them. She 
took absolute command the moment they en- 
tered the door. 

“ Get out of your wet things this instant, 
every one of you I she ordered. “ Hannah, 
you take the overcoats and hang ^em up by 
the kitchen stove. And you boys, you get over 
by the living-room fire. Mercy me I but you’re 
as sopping wet as onr old cat was the day he 
fell into the cistern. And don’t be afraid to 
take ofi* your shoes and dry ’em — wet feet’s 
the worst thing that can happen ; and I’m not 
going to have your mothers think I let com- 
pany manners help give you all colds. Yes, 
and don’t be bashful about pulling off your 
socks if the water got through to ’em. And 
Hannah, oh, Hannah ! Run up-stairs and 
bring down some of Mr. Grant’s socks — bring 
enough to go ’round. They’ll be a mite 
roomy, maybe, but that won’t matter. And 
bring along all the slippers you happen to see. 
. . . Eh, eh? What’s that, now?” Sam 

had put a somewhat anxious inquiry when 
the lady paused an instant for breath. The 
others, you say? Aren’t they here? No, 
they’re not. But which ones do you mean ? 


THE HUNT 


229 

Let's see I Let me take tally. . . . Oh, I 
see now. You mean that queer little one I 
thought was looking for dust on the map, and 
the other boy — the nice, polite one — not that 
you aren't all polite, of course I " she con- 
cluded hastily. 

Sam's face lengthened. We missed them," 
he explained, ‘‘ but supposed, of course, they'd 
started back together." 

Mrs. Grant shook her head vigorously. 

If they started, they didn't get here. And 
that's funny, too ; for how could they miss 
the path ? But don't you worry I They'll 
come straggling in pretty soon, I warrant you. 
And they couldn't come to much harm any- 
where in Sugar Valley. So just you sit down 
and make yourself comfortable while you 
wait for 'em." And she gave Sam a friendly 
push toward the fire. 

Sam drew his chair close to the hearth, 
where most of the other boys already had 
taken their places. Both the light and 
warmth from the blazing logs were cheer- 
ing, and the spirits of the party were improv- 
ing rapidly. Thanks to heavy outer jackets, 
and high overshoes, they had come through 


230 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

their experience better than anybody unused 
to rough weather outfits might have supposed 
to be possible ; but it was comforting, never- 
theless, to toast for a little before the fire. 
Then Mrs. Grant, who had her own theories 
as to the wants and tastes of boys, brought in 
a huge dish of doughnuts and another of crul- 
lers, while Hannah bore a great pitcher of 
lemonade. 

Just a snack, you know/^ the hostess de- 
clared. ** A bite or two to tide you over and 
take away that tired feeling.’^ 

In view of the tremendous dinner, this 
luncheon might have been thought a little 
premature, but every member of the Safety 
First Club then present helped himself to a 
doughnut or cruller, and did this most will- 
ingly. Poke, in spite of his sorrows, espe- 
cially distinguished himself ; but even Sam 
was no laggard in performance. Still, his 
sense of responsibility for all of the party 
wasn’t dulled. 

The rain was falling more heavily than 
ever — of this he could be sure from its beat- 
ing on the windows. Mrs. Grant, too, was 
observant of the weather. 


THE HUNT 


231 

“ Boys/^ she declared, you can^t drive 
back to town this afternoon in that open 
sleigh. Why, you’d be drowned out I I just 
won’t let you go. Be no trouble to take care 
of you over night. My, but this old house 
has room enough for as many more, and then 
a few extras.” 

Thank you, ma’am, but I think we’d better 
go back,” said Sam. 

‘^Fiddlesticks and fiddledeedee I ’Twon’t 
make a mite of bother to us to keep you over 
night. And I vow I just thought of it I I 
want you to stay and try Hannah’s waffles 
for breakfast — waffles with maple syrup, of 
course.” 

At that Poke sighed, audibly and longingly. 
Step grinned, and the Trojan laughed out- 
right. Sam, though, was serious. 

“ We really ought to be starting. If only 

those other fellows were here But how 

does it look, Lon? Any signs of clearing 
up? ” 

Lon, who had just returned from a weather 
observation from the porch, shook his head. 

“No; closin in thicker’n ever. And rainin’ 
to beat the cars I ” 


232 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

What did I tell you I cried Mrs. Grant 
triumphantly. Of course you^ll stay here 
all night. The ti'aveling now would be 
awful.’^ 

Wal, ma^am, that depends on what you’re 
used to,” Lon remarked calmly. Old Noah, 
now, he might say this was jest layin’ the 
dust nice and comfortable. Or a hornpout 
might call it pretty fair goin’. But for folks 
that ain’t had sich advantages of experience 
or nat’ral capacity — -wal, I guess it’s safe to 
figger they would call the travelin’ jest about 
awful, as you was sayin’, ma’am.” 

“ But we ought to go back,” Sam in- 
sisted. 

'‘Yes; I reckon we ought,” Lon agreed, 
but with no heartiness. 

“ Nonsense ! ” declared Mrs. Grant. 

Sam went to a window, and peered out. 
He saw nothing to cheer him, and turned 
back, with an anxious frown on his face. 

" What in the world can be keeping Varley 
and the Shark? And where can they have 
strayed ? ” 

“ Oh, they ought to be along presently,” 
Mrs. Grant comforted. " Two able-bodied, 


THE HUNT 


233 

wide-awake boys won^t come to harm in 
Sugar Valley/^ 

No, ma’am, said Sam mechanically, but 
his expression of anxiety did not lessen. The 
afternoon was wearing away. In an hour or 
two more the light, not too strong now, would 
be fading ; and the night promised to be as 
black as one’s hat. And, meanwhile, the 
Shark and Varley ought to be turning up I 

“ They won’t come to harm,” Mrs. Grant 
repeated emphatically. “ But, all the same, 
they ought to be here. Just wait a minute, 
though.” 

Out of the room she hurried, and, presently, 
there was the call of a telephone bell from 
the hall. Sam impatiently awaited the re- 
sults. There was a considerable delay. Evi- 
dently Mrs. Grant was talking with more than 
one of her neighbors over the wire. 

When she came back to the living-room, 
her expression bore a trace of perplexity. 

“ I do declare, but it’s amazing queer I No- 
body, up the road or down, has seen anything, 
or heard anything, of those two boys. And I 
did suppose that they’d put in somewhere, to 
wait for a let-up in the rain. But everybody 


234 the SAFETT first CLUB 

along here is on the line, and I’ve called ’em 
all, and nothing comes of it.” 

Sam glanced at his watch. I’m afraid 
something’s gone wrong,” he said. “ Varley’s 
sort of a tenderfoot, and the Shark — well, he’s 
posted well enough, but he’s as likely as not 
to get to figuring on something, and then how 
can you tell what he’d do, or not do? ” 

Step spoke sharply. Say, there’s the river I 
It must be high, and if either or both of them 

fell in ” 

He had no need to finish the sentence. 
Mrs. Grant uttered an exclamation ; the boys 
moved uneasily ; even Lon seemed to be im- 
pressed by the suggestion. 

Great Scott, but we’d ought to thought o’ 
that sooner ! Any boys is footless, sometimes, 
and if you’d tried to pair up a queer mated 
couple, you couldn’t ’a’ picked a more uncer- 
tain combination o’ performers than the Shark 
and that Varley lad’d make.” 

That — that’s so, Lon,” Sam agreed heavily. 

Mrs. Grant took the floor again. Don’t 
get flustered ! I’ve got an idea. Wait, every- 
body, till I see how it can be worked.” 

Once more she hurried into the hall, and 


THE HUNT 


235 

again there were sounds to indicate that she 
was busy at the telephone. Ten minutes 
passed — and to Sam they seemed to be very 
dragging minutes — before she returned, and 
addressed him. 

“ Well, IVe made a good beginning on the 
idea, all right. IVe called up your folks in 
town, young man, and IVe had a talk with 
your mother. She understood things — I knew 
she would, for I guess she's a good, sensible 
woman, seeing the sort of son she’s got. And 
she saw at once what an awful trip back 
you'd have. And she said I could keep you 
over night, and she'd call up all the other 
mothers and let 'em know you were all right. 
And so that part of it's fixed. Now we come 
to the next part. You’re so uneasy about 
those strayaways that you'd be hopping 
around like corn in a popper if you couldn't 
go hunting 'em. And I guess I'd be hopping, 
too, if you weren't trying to find 'em. For 
they ought to have shown up long ago. And 
with Mr. Grant to help, and the hired man — 
why, we ought to be able to know something 
mighty quick. So, if that's your idea, too, 
and if you're ready " 


236 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

If! Sam shouted, and sprang to his feet. 
‘‘ If? Why, ma’am, I’ve been aching to go 
for the last hour 1 ” 

Well, I guess you ain’t lonesome in that,” 
said Mrs. Grant briskly. 

The other boys, and Lon and Mr. Grant, for 
that matter, had risen almost as quickly as 
Sam himself. 

Mrs. Grant looked the group over, and 
nodded approvingly. 

No ; there ain’t a lagger in the lot,” she 
said with conviction. And there’s just one 
thing I don’t like about it ; and that is that 
Hannah and I can’t go along with you.” 


CHAPTER XV 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 

Paul Varley was sorely shaken by his 
plunge into the depths of the ancient cellar. 
He struck its floor so heavily, indeed, that 
the breath seemed to be driven from his 
body. 

For a little he lay, motionless and half 
stunned. Then, his brain clearing, and, be 
it said, his general sense of numbness giving 
place to a number of distinct aches and pangs, 
he groaned, raised himself on an elbow, sat up, 
and tried to peer about him. 

The movements had accentuated the pains. 
Paul groaned again. Even at that moment, 
though, the greatest of his troubles was the 
gloom in which he found himself. 

Except for the pale patch of light above his 
head, indicating the break in the flooring of 
the room he had first entered, everything 
was in darkness ; not an even darkness, but 
237 


238 THE SJFETT FIRST CLUB 

patchy, lumpy, with weird suggestions of 
shadowy and grotesque shapes. 

Experimentally Paul drew up a knee, and 
found that the joint was in working order. 
He stretched out his arms. One of them was 
lame and sore, but he appeared to have es- 
caped broken bones. Encouraged slightly, he 
tested his other leg, closing the test with a 
vigorous kick. His foot encountered an ob- 
stacle, and a voice spoke in the darkness. 

‘‘ Hi there I What do you think you^re 
doing? ” 

It was a startled voice, and a wrathful 
voice. The sound of it gave Paul an instant 
of dazed bewilderment. His wits were 
working, but he hadn’t recalled the circum- 
stance that he was not alone in his misadven- 
ture. 

Oh I ” he gasped. Oh — oh, you’re there, 

then ? ” 

** Naturally ! ” The Shark’s tone was no 
milder than before. 

And — and are you hurt? ” 

** Huh I What do you suppose ? ” 

But — but are you ? ” 

** There are some statements,” said the 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 239 

Shark grimly, which should not need to 
be made. That^s one of 'em.” 

'Tm mighty sorry. I — I ought to have 
known.” 

The contrition in Varley's tone had its 
effect. 

“ Huh 1 ” grunted the Shark, but less 
aggressively. Huh I Certain causes are 
bound to produce certain results. I'm hurt 
— yes. I'm all banged up. But thank the 
stars ! the worst didn't happen. I haven't 
broken 'em.” 

Your legs, you mean ? ” 

No ; my glasses I ” snapped the Shark. 

I'm like a bat if anything happens to 
them.” 

** I understand. But how about the rest of 
you — the legs and arms, I mean ? ” 

There was a brief pause, as if the Shark 
might be taking account of stock, so to speak. 

** Well, I'm lame in one foot or ankle — can't 
be sure which,” he reported. ** And I'm sore 
in one shoulder — must have landed on it. 
Otherwise, though, I guess I'm all right. I — 
ugh 1 Say, that hurt I ” 

By hearing rather than by sight Varley 


240 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

knew that the Shark was getting upon his 
feet. He followed the example ; also he 
imitated the exclamation. 

'*Ouch! Whew I Say, Fve got my troub- 
les, too.” 

There was a moment’s silence ; then Varley 
spoke again : 

It’s queer — I don’t know what’s the 
matter, but I — I’m sort of dizzy, and — and 
choking, and — and ” 

It’s getting me, too,” the Shark agreed. 

Hold on, though I I’ve got an idea.” 

There was the faint click of the catch of a 
metal match-box. Then a tiny flame showed. 
By its feeble light Varley made out what were 
the vague shapes that had seemed like heavier 
shadows, piles of old barrels and boxes, the 
usual accumulation of odds and ends in a 
cellar. Then the sickly flame died down. 

Humph I That’s it, fast enough,” said 
the Shark. Bad air — like the air in a well 
or a cave that’s been closed up. Match won’t 
burn in it. Guess we’d better get out.” 

Varley was beginning to have difficulty in 
breathing. 

Great Scott, but I — I never was in such a 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 241 

place I he panted. “ So close — so stuffy — so 
sour — so — so 

“ Sure ! Bet you there hasn't been a win- 
dow or door of this cellar opened in my time 
or yours. And not nearly enough air’d seep 
in to keep it sweet. And as for getting out — 
well, I guess we’d best go the way we came.” 

With that he put his hands above his head, 
and groped for the edge of the broken flooring. 
Luckily, the ancient cellar was not deep. 
The Shark failed to get a grip, but Varley, 
who was taller, succeeded where he failed. 

Give me a leg up,” Paul directed, and 
the Shark obeyed. The effort was painful. 
Plucky fellow though he was, he couldn’t 
quite repress a groan. Varley uttered an- 
other, and another, as he raised himself ; 
bettered his hold on the ragged ends of the 
boards ; found them fragile as well as ragged ; 
tore away fragments of the rotten wood ; 
gained the stouter support of a beam, which 
appeared still to be sound ; called upon the 
Shark for renewed and redoubled effort; 
exerted all his waning strength, and, at last, 
slowly and with difficulty, drew his body to 
the comparative safety of the floor. 


242 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Apparently most of the remaining boards 
were still sound enough to support his weight, 
though they creaked dismally, while he bent 
down and extended a helping hand to the 
Shark. 

It was a fortunate thing for the young 
adventurers that the Shark was light. Varley, 
as it was, found his work cut out for him, 
especially as both he and his companion still 
felt the effects of the foul air of the cellar. 
By dint of their utmost joint endeavors the 
Shark finally half climbed, half was dragged, 
through the opening. Then he tried to strug- 
gle to his knees, but pitched forward and lay 
helpless and exhausted. Varley, in almost 
as grievous plight, laid hold upon his collar 
and began to drag him toward the window. 

Experiences were crowding thick and fast 
upon the city youth, but he was rising to the 
emergency and proving the mettle that was in 
him. It was a hard task, desperately hard, 
to cover the few feet which lay between the 
gap in the floor and the wall. Varley gritted 
his teeth, and pulled and tugged at the Shark, 
and gained inch by inch. But when the 
window had been reached, he slumped upon 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 243 

the floor beside his comrade, and lay there, 
panting heavily. 

Luckily the sash was still raised, and 
through the opening the fresh, damp air was 
pouring into the room. The Shark was the 
first to show its revivifying effects. He 
moved, lifted himself on an elbow. Varley, 
after a little, raised his head. The eyes of the 
two met. 

The Shark nodded solemnly. “ Much 
obliged. Good work. You’re all right. I 
won’t forget it.” His voice was faint, but there 
was more than a hint of his usual crisp speech. 

With some difficulty Paul sat up. So did 
the Shark. There was a long pause, each re- 
garding the other steadily. Suddenly Varley 
spoke : 

** We’re lucky — to get out of that.” He 
jerked his head in the direction of the yawn- 
ing hole in the floor. 

“ Sure I ” responded the Shark. You see 
how it was ? Cellar’s been shut up tight, so 
the air goes bad. Read about such things. 
Knew something was happening to us, but it 
needed the way the match failed to burn to 
give me a hint of what it was.” 


244 the SHFETT first CLUB 

“ I understand. But — but what next ? ” 

Cautiously and with a manner of not being 
over-sure of himself, the Shark stood up. He 
peered out of the window, and shook his 
head. 

Worse than it was,^’ he made report. 

Raining harder than ever. And say I I’m 
pretty wet.” 

Varley, too, got upon his feet. A glance 
through the dingy pent: sufficed. The Shark 
had not exaggerated the weather conditions 
outside. 

^‘Well, what ought we to do?” Paul in- 
quired. Pile out into it? ” 

The Shark shook his head decidedly. “ No ; 
not just yet. I’m too nearly all in. Got to 
have a chance to pull myself together and get 
my second wind.” 

Varley shivered. “ This — this is a pretty 
tough place to stay.” 

“ We can help things a lot.” 

How ? ” Paul asked incredulously. 

There’s a fireplace yonder. We have 
matches. There’s a lot of dry stuff we can 
burn.” 

Yes, but ” 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 245 

“ There's no ' but ' about it. We've got a 
roof over our heads. We can have a fire. We 
will have one, and we'll dry off, while we wait 
a while to see if the weather doesn't change." 

“But the rest of the crowd? They'll be 
wanting to start back to town." 

“ They won't start in an open sleigh in such 
a downpour." 

“ But they won't know where we are." 

“ Huh I We don't know just where they 
are this minute, either." 

Paul hesitated. “ Why — why, if we could 
get word to 'em " 

Plainly, the Shark was rapidly becoming 
himself again, for he grunted scornfully. 
“ Ugh ! No telephone, no message. That's 
all there is to it. May as well take things as 
they are and make the best of 'em." 

“ Well, I suppose that's so," Paul admitted, 
ruefully. Making the best of a long deserted 
house did not appear to him to offer much of 
promise. 

The Shark limped back to the break in the 
floor. He moved with caution, and came to 
no harm. Apparently the floor was in fair 
condition except at the spot where it had given 


246 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

way beneath their weight. The Shark offered 
an explanation : 

Umph ! Must have been a patch of dry- 
rot, and we struck it. Happens that way 
sometimes — don’t know the reason. But they 
built for keeps, the old fellows did, and this 
old shack’ll stand nobody knows how much 
longer. Now let’s see what we can do for 
kindling.” 

Bending down, he laid hold upon one of the 
fractured boards. The wood yielded to the 
pull, and he ripped off a piece a foot or more 
in length and two or three inches across. A 
second tug yielded a slightly smaller piece. 

Varley was observing the proceedings won- 
deringly. 

You don’t mean to say, do you, that you 
can make a fire with that stuff? ” he asked. 

I can start one,” quoth the Shark. ‘‘ Got 
to get something else to keep her going.” 

Where can you get it ? ” 

The Shark nodded at the hole in the floor. 
“ Down there. Lot of junk lying around. 
Saw it while the match was flickering.” 

Varley’s face lengthened. What I You’d 
risk it in that cellar again ? ” 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 247 

** I^d risk more than that for a fire. Need 
it in my business, and need it quick.” 

Well, you’re not going down there,” said 
Varley with decision. 

The Shark peered at him. *‘Huh? I’m 
not? How you make that out? ” 

Because I’m going down. Look here I 
Whoever goes ought not to stay there long. 
It’ll be a case of grabbing up stuff that’ll burn 
and passing it up to the other fellow. Now, 
I’ve got longer arms and legs than you have. 
I can reach farther. When it comes to getting 
out, I can get a grip on the floor, and you can 
lend a hand from above. The air below won’t 
be good, but it’ll be no worse than it was be- 
fore. Maybe it’ll be a little better — perhaps 
some fresh air will leak down through the 
hole. But I can work the trick, and I can 
work it better than you could, because I’m 
better built for it.” 

The Shark paused in the operation of split- 
ting one of the pieces of board. He blinked 
at Varley for a moment. 

Hanged if I thought you had it in you I ” 
he said frankly. “ Oh, I don’t mean the 
courage — that’s common enough. I mean 


248 THE SHFETT FIRST CLUB 

the gumption — the head-piece — the sense to 
figure it out. What you say’s all true ; you’re 
better built for the job. So you may do it. 
And — well, you might as well go to it.” 

Varley needed no urging. He lowered 
himself through the opening, and dropped to 
the floor of the cellar. The Shark struck an- 
other of his precious matches, and held it like 
a tiny torch to guide the forager. There was 
draft enough to make it flicker wildly, but 
the same air currents did Varley a good 
turn. 

He told himself that there was a perceptible 
freshening of the atmosphere in the old cel- 
lar. The place certainly was still one in 
which he would not have cared to linger, but 
as he scrambled to a pile of rubbish, and 
caught up an armful, his breathing, though 
quickened, was not difiicult. What he col- 
lected he could no more than guess, for the 
match flame hardly lightened the shadows. 
By feeling rather than by sight he knew that 
it was wood upon which he laid hands. Then 
the Shark had caught the load, and Varley 
was back for another, which followed the first 
through the opening. Then down shot the 



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THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 249 

Shark’s arm, and a hand closed on Paul’s 
collar. 

That’s enough to begin with. You come 
up — while the coming’s good I ” 

The Shark’s tone was gruff, but, somehow, 
Varley knew there was approval in it. With 
right good will he obeyed the order ; and with 
the other’s aid he was soon back in the room. 
His hands were bleeding from sliver wounds, 
and his clothes were torn, but his spirits were 
rising rapidly. 

Huh I Good work ! ” grunted the Shark. 

Stuff’ll burn.” 

Varley glanced at his plunder. It included 
barrel staves, broken for the most part ; short 
lengths of board ; a stick or two of split fire- 
wood ; all coated with dust and cobwebs, 
which had accumulated in the course of 
many years. 

Sure it’ll burn,” he declared. It ought 
to be as dry as tinder.” 

The Shark knelt by the hearth and made a 
little pyramid of shavings, topped with bits 
of board. Then he struck another match ; 
the shavings ignited ; a yellow flame showed, 
and above it rose a curl of smoke. 


250 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Deftly the Shark brought forward more 
wood, and added it to the pile. The flames 
spread, and so, for that matter, did the smoke, 
which belched from the fireplace into the 
room. 

“ Got — got to wait for the chimney to 
warm,^’ gasped the Shark. Always the way. 

. . . Whew I but that was a smotherer I 

A cloud of smoke had driven fairly in his 
face. Coughing, he retreated, until he could 
clear his lungs. Then he came back valor- 
ously and played stoker. 

The fire began to burn more vigorously, and 
the flue to do its appointed part. There was 
less smoke, and more light in the room. Var- 
ley made his first deliberate inspection of their 
refuge. 

The ceiling was very low ; he could touch it 
by raising his hand. The walls were grimy 
and spotted. Big beams showed at the cor- 
ners. The fireplace was a rough, but substan- 
tial, affair, smoke blackened. The pieces of 
furniture he had noticed on first entering 
were decrepit with age. The table lacked a 
leg ; the settle sagged at one end ; the chest of 
drawers was a ruin. 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 251 

The Shark was taking off his overcoat, and 
unbuckling his high overshoes. From both 
shoes and coat steam was rising as they caught 
the heat from the fire. 

Varley followed his companion's example. 
As he removed his shoes, he whistled softly. 
The guaranteed waterproofing had not been 
up to the requirements of such a test as it had 
undergone. 

The Shark sat down on the floor ; so did 
Varley. Each clasped his hands about his 
knees, and stared at the fire. It was crack- 
ling merrily, but not loudly enough to drown 
the sounds of the rain dashing against the old 
house. 

There was a long pause before either spoke. 
Then said Varley, ruminatively : 

I guess you were right — a fire does help 
things a lot. I shouldnT have thought of it. 
Still, this is a new game for me, this knocking 
about in the wilds ; and it’s an old story for 
you.” 

“ Not so very old,” corrected the Shark. 
'' Had a taste of it while ago, up in the big 
woods. Time our crowd got caught in a bliz- 
zard we found an old shack, and took posses- 


252 THE SHFETT FIRST CLUB 

sion. And the first thing we did was to start 
a fire. And maybe we didn’t need it I Cold ? 
It was I How cold ? Huh I Some of the 
fellows were talking about thirty below. No 
thermometer along, though — pity I Man 
ought to travel equipped for taking notes. 
And a good, registered thermometer’d be a 
great comfort. So’d a barometer, eh ? ” 

Why — why, very likely.” 

The Shark shook his head. Trouble is, 
folks don’t realize the need of precision. 
They’ll make a guess at the temperature, and 
let it go at that. Bah I ” 

Varley, not knowing what response to 
make, said nothing. 

The Shark resumed his staring at the fire. 
There was another pause, even longer than 
that which had gone before. Varley at last 
pulled out his watch, and uttered an exclama- 
tion of vexation. 

** Thunder ! The thing’s stopped — must 
have been caused by that fall. What time do 
you suppose it is? ” 

“ Don’t know. Left my watch at home to- 
day,” said the Shark. 

Varley sprang up — then groaned at the 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 253 

pangs he suffered as the result of his incau- 
tious haste of movement. He looked out of 
the window, his face lengthening. 

“ Cracky I but it’s getting mighty dark I 
And the rain’s fairly coming down in buckets. 
I can’t see any distance. But unless I’m 
amazingly mistaken — say, look here, will 
you ? ” 

The Shark joined him. 

“ What’s that out there ? Looks like a 
regular lake I ” Paul cried. 

The Shark made deliberate inspection. 
Close to the old house was now an expanse of 
water, probably not very deep, but certainly 
of considerable area. 

Back-water ! ” was the Shark’s verdict. 

Back-water ? ” Paul repeated doubtfully. 

From the river. It’s over its bank at 
some low spot, and the water has spread out. 
It fills up the low places, of course, and this 
house seems to stand on a little rise. Very 
likely we’re surrounded.” 

Cut off, you mean ? ” 

** Not if we want to wade out.” 

Oh ! Wade ? ” Varley did not look happy 
at the prospect. 


254 the SAFETT first CLUB 

The Shark studied the scene— so far as it 
could be made out in the dim light. 

Umph I Must be getting late,” he re- 
marked coolly. “ Don’t know that a wading 
job would be any wetter than a walk. Still, 
would either pay ? We’re all right here. 
There’s more wood for the fire to be had down 
cellar. . . . Um, u-m-m ! Maybe it’d be 

wisest to let well enough alone.” 

And stay here ? ” 

** Sure I For a while, anyway, till the rain 
lessens, and that pond has a chance to drain 
off.” 

But will it drain off? ” 

The Shark shrugged his shoulders. “ No- 
body knows.” 

Varley deliberated for a moment. But 
how about the rest of the crowd ? What’ll 
they be thinking?” 

‘‘ Don’t know. I’m no mind reader.” 

‘‘But ” 

“ But what can we do about it? ” the Shark 
broke in. “ We can wade out of this and be 
like two drowned rats for wetness, or we can 
stay here.” 

“ All night?” 


THE HOUSE OF REFUGE 255 

** If necessary. Nothing to hurt us, is 
there ? 

** No/^ said Paul reluctantly. “ But I wish 
we — well, I wish we could get word to the 
others.^^ 

The Shark grunted. Then he limped to 
the fireplace and gave the fire a poke with a 
stick. Flames shot higher, illuminating the 
room. 

“ This suits me better than what^s waiting 
for us outside,” he said, and dropped to his 
old place on the floor. 

Paul joined him. 

“ Whew I ” said the city youth, after a 
little. Tell you, I never knew before what 
a comfort a fire could be 1 ” 


CHAPTER XVI 


BLIND TRAILS 

From closets and sheds and attics Mrs. 
Grant produced an amazing supply of rubber 
coats and boots, oilskins and sou’westers. 

“ Here, now, boys, fit yourselves out,^^ she 
directed. Or, if you can’t fit yourselves, 
come the nearest you can. Most of these 
things Mr. Grant has used one time or an- 
other, but they’ll turn water more or less. 
And looks won’t count — there’ll be nobody to 
see you. And you’ll find the other boys, of 
course, and when you do, bring ’em right here. 
And then we’ll have a good, hot supper, and 
everybody’ll feel better.” 

This was spoken bravely enough ; but it 
was clear that Mrs. Grant was worried, if not 
greatly alarmed, by the absence of Varley and 
the Shark. Sam and his friends made haste 
to equip themselves. In two or three cases 
high overshoes were esteemed sufficient pro* 
256 


BLIND TRAILS 


^S7 

tection for the feet, but the other boys were 
glad to turn to boots. Every boy found some- 
thing in the' shape of a rain-coat; for the 
downpour out-of-doors made all possible cov- 
ering desirable. Some of the garments were 
grotesquely large for the wearers, but nobody 
made a joke of this. In fact, the club was 
quite of opinion that real work lay before the 
searchers. 

Sam noticed that while Mr. Grant sent a 
farm-hand to the barn with orders to harness 
a horse, the farmer himself proposed to ac- 
company the party on foot. There was a 
little consultation on the porch. 

We ought to scatter, of course,^’ Mr. Grant 
declared. “ Some can scout up the road, and 
some down. Others can strike across lots to 
the sugar camp and spread out from there. 
Then, if need be, I can send down to the foot 
of the valley for news. A rig’ll be ready to 
go.” 

Nobody made answer for a moment. A 
trip to the foot of the valley would mean that 
there was reason to believe the Shark and 
Varley had fallen into the river and been 
carried down-stream. 


258 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

I — I hope that won’t be necessary,” Sam 
said at last, unsteadily. 

I don’t think it will be,” Mr. Grant en- 
couraged. ^^I’ve been figuring on this busi- 
ness, and it seems to me the chances are that 
those youngsters strayed away from the camp, 
lost their bearings, and when the rain in- 
creased took to any shelter they could find. 
With the weather as thick as it is, it wouldn’t 
be hard for them to miss their way. Of 
course, if they kept their heads, they’d steer 
for higher ground, knowing that sooner or 
later they’d come to a road. But boys will 
be boys — and there’s the river, of course. We 
can’t forget that.” 

Sam nodded. We’re not forgetting it, sir. 
And as for keeping their heads — well, one of 
those fellows is a stranger to all this sort of 
thing, but the other’s as cool as they make 
’em. That’s the part that sets me worrying 
most : the Shark’s not likely to go wool- 
gathering unless he gets interested in some 
of his calculations.” 

‘‘ He’d have trouble in finding a slate to do 
his ciphering out yonder.” 

Oh, the Shark wouldn’t need slates or 


BLIND TRAILS 


259 

paper. His head’s good enough for him. 
But — but don’t you think we’d better start, 
sir?” 

“ Yes,” said Mr. Grant briskly. 

It was left to Sam, as the recognized leader 
of the club, to allot the tasks. Poke and Step 
he told off to follow the road up the valley, 
with instructions to make inquiries at each 
house on the way. The Trojan and Herman 
Boyd were to scout down the road. Mr. Grant 
went with Lon, Orkney and Sam himself to 
the sugar camp. 

The tramp across the fields gave plenty of 
evidences of the rapidity with which the thaw 
was progressing. The lowlands were fairly 
afloat, and the line of march led through pools, 
some of which were more than ankle deep. 

Arriving at the camp, Sam shouted lustily, 
but there was no response. Again heads were 
put together for a consultation. It resulted 
in a scattering of the party through the maple 
grove, each of the searchers looking for tracks 
in the melting snow. 

In this several difficulties were encountered. 
To begin with, Mr. Grant and his helpers had 
been busy about the place for some days, and 


26 o the SAFETT first CLUB 


near the building footprints were only too 
numerous. Then, too, the heavy rain made 
it hard to tell fresh tracks from old. It was 
Lon Gates who suggested an improvement in 
their method of search. 

“ This ain’t gettin’ us nowhere, folks. We’re 
like fellers in one o’ them mazes you read 
about, that’s jest a puzzle and bewilderment. 
Let’s get out of it, and skirmish round the 
edges o’ things. If the boys scooted off, they 
scooted somewhere ; and we ought to be able 
to pick up the trail where it ain’t all tangled 
up with half a dozen others and I dunno how 
many more.” 

Following this suggestion, they made a 
circuit of the Island.” It revealed no less 
than four trails, any one of which might be 
the one they sought. 

One led down the valley; two others toward 
the river ; the fourth headed up-stream. With 
the drive of the rain sharp outlines had been 
obliterated. 

Lon studied the impressions closely. 

** I ain’t no Apache tracker, and I dunno’s 
it would help things much if I was ; but if 
you want my guess, it’s that more’n one feller 


BLIND TRAILS 261 

went this way.’’ He nodded at a trail leading 
toward the river. 

Mr. Grant inclined to believe that the 
down-valley trail was more promising. The 
boys hesitated, frankly unable to form an in- 
telligent opinion. 

“ Well, we can try both,” said the farmer. 
** I’ll take this chap ” — he nodded at Orkney 
— and you two can go the other road.” 

Nobody else had a better plan to offer. Mr. 
Grant and Orkney plodded off down the valley, 
and Lon and Sam headed for the river. 

For a little way the marks they followed 
were fairly plain. That is, it was quite evi- 
dent that one or more persons had passed that 
way, though how long before was pure guess- 
work. Then, presently, they came to a low, 
swampy tract ; and here among hummocks 
and pools and dense patches of bushes the 
trail lost itself. 

No use, Sam I ” Lon growled, as he stum- 
bled over a root, and barely escaped a fall. 
“ If those two young idiots were steering for 
anything in partic’lar, it’d be the river. 
Come on I We’ll try for a short cut.” 

With that he broke through the thicket, 


262 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

and Sam pressed after him. In a few minutes 
more they were on the bank of the stream, 
peering eagerly about them. 

So heavy was the pouring rain that it was 
hardly possible to make out clearly the fringe 
of trees along the opposite side of the river. 
The swift current was racing along, its surface 
dotted with masses of ice and now and then a 
floating log. 

“UmphI Gettin^ up, Sam, gettin^ up this 
brook is ! ” quoth Lon. “ And somebody up- 
river’s losin’ his cord-wood. And I say now — 
jest look at that, will ye? ” 

Sam looked. He made out the object at 
which Lon was pointing, but at first was un- 
certain what it might be. 

“ Chicken coop,” Lon explained. ** And 
that thing bobbin’ up and down yonder’s a 
packin’ case, or I miss my guess. Bet you 
the37’re havin’ doin’s up above 1 ” 

Sam was doing his best to master every 
feature of the scene ; but most of all he was 
seeking traces of his missing friends. 

“ I can’t see anything — anything of the 
boys,” he complained. I don’t believe they 
came this way.” 


BLIND TRAILS 263 

Lon grinned wrily. Don’t see why they 
should ’a’ wanted to, if they had the wits they 
was born with. And if we’ve got ours left, 
there ain’t no jest cause and impediment why 
we shouldn’t move on.” 

“ Which way ? ” 

Lon considered briefly. My notion is we 
might as well go back to the camp, and pick 
up another of the trails. There’s nothin’ to 
show that those fellows strayed here. But 
what in time made ’em drift away from the 
rest of the crowd, anyway ? ” 

Sam couldn’t offer reasonable explanation. 
Lon grunted : 

Ugh I Been a boy myself, and had the 
benefit of your society, Sam, to keep my hand 
in, but hanged if I can make out why boys’ll 
do things that wouldn’t get a vote at an 
election in a lunatic asylum I But that ain’t 
gettin’ us nowhere or nohow. Let’s go back ! ” 

They splashed through the puddles, plowed 
through the snow where it still lay deep, 
broke a way through the swampy thickets. 
Both, it may be, were in hopes of seeing Mr. 
Grant and Orkney at the camp, but nobody 
was in sight near the building. 


264 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Lon now turned attention to the trail lead- 
ing up the valley. 

“ I dunno^s this is more promising but I 
can’t say it’s any less. Maybe it’s fresher — 
must say, though, they all look a lot alike to 
me. And when you don’t know anything 

about a thing, why ” 

Hullo I ” Sam broke in. Here comes 
Orkney ! ” 

Tom was hurrying along at the best pace 
he could make in his big, borrowed rubber 
boots. There was a look of anxiety on his 
face, but he spoke quietly when he joined 
Sam and Lon. 

“ Mr. Grant told me to look you up. No ; 
I’ve no news — that is, we didn’t find any- 
thing. But when we got a look at the river, 
Mr. Grant decided he’d send his man down to 
the foot of the valley at once. So he made a 
short cut for the house, and I started to hunt 
you up. I’ll work with you.” 

“ Then ” Sam began unsteadily. 

Don’t jump to the conclusion that Mr. 
Grant thinks Varley and the Shark have been 
carried down-stream. Only the river is a lot 
higher than he expected to find it, and the 


BLIND TRAILS 265 

current's swifter. So he is going to send his 
man down to the bridges. But he thought it 
might be well for you to scout the other way. 
I’ll help. I suppose he’ll follow us later.” 

“ Umph I Can’t be much later if he means 
to ketch up with us before dark,” Lon ob- 
served. 

There was point to the remark. The 
gloomy afternoon was shading into a twi- 
light which gave promise of a pitchy night 
to follow. The rain still fell in undimin- 
ished volume. At any other time Sam might 
have laughed at the picture made by his com- 
panions. Lon’s “ slicker ” and Tom’s heavy 
mackintosh ran little streams in every wrinkle, 
while others dripped briskly from the brims 
of their head-gear. 

“ Come on ! ” Sam said impatiently. 

This time they were on the right trail, 
though, of course, none of the three could 
know it. It was easily followed until it 
brought them to the point on the river bank 
where Varley and the Shark had halted for a 
time ; but there they lost it. The drenched 
thickets hid footprints, and the growing dark- 
ness was a steadily increasing handicap. 


266 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


Lon frowned in perplexity. I swan, but 
I don^t like this I ’’ he declared. ‘‘ This 
river’s practically bank full and sloppin’ 
over. Look there I ” He pointed to a little 
stream which was finding its way across a 
low spot on the shore. This is goin’ to be 
jest one big frog pond before long, or I’ll eat 
my hat.” 

Let’s go a little farther, anyway ! ” Sam 
urged. 

“ With you there, Sam I ” cried Lon readily 
enough. 

“ Of course — only thing to do,” said Orkney 
curtly. 

They went on, following the bank. As a 
matter of fact, the footing there was better 
than it was at a greater distance from the 
stream ; for here was one of the low-lying, 
swampy patches, which were actually lower 
than the dike-like ridge along the river. At 
the best, though, progress was slow. There 
were tangles of brush ; there were gullies, 
now turned into channels for the water ; there 
were spots where the snow had given place to 
a sticky and treacherous mire. 

Now and then one or the other of the 


BLIND TRAILS 267 

searchers shouted lustily. It can hardly be 
said that an answer was expected, but after 
each hail there was a halt, in which the three 
strained their ears. Perhaps this was because 
their eyes could pierce the gloom for but a 
little way. 

How far this slow and difficult march con- 
tinued it would have been hard for any of 
the little party to estimate. They might 
have covered a mile ; it might not be a half- 
mile. 

Lon, who was in the lead, suddenly pulled 
up. 

Boys,^' he said, I hate to give up, but is 
there any use holdin^ on longer ? It’s gettin’ 
powerful dark ; the rain’s wuss than ever ; 
we dunno but Varley and the Shark are this 
minute toastin’ their toes by Mis’ Grant’s fire. 
Besides, we’ve got to have lanterns if we’re 
goin’ to poke around this way. ’Tain’t al- 
together a question now of findin’ somebody 
else ; it’s gettin’ to be a question o’ keepin’ 
ourselves from gettin’ lost. What say, Sam ? ” 

Sam hesitated, glancing at Orkney. What 
Lon had said was true enough. Still, he was 
extremely reluctant to abandon or even to 


268 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

interrupt the hunt. Orkney, too, appeared 
to be of this opinion, if Sam interpreted 
rightly the look on his face. 

“ Well, Lon,'^ Sam began doubtfully ; “ of 
course ’’ 

There he broke off, abruptly ; clapped a hand 
to his ear ; bent forward, listening eagerly. 

“What's that sound? Catch it? Some- 
thing mighty queer about it." 

Sam’s voice had been shaking with excite- 
ment. Orkney’s answer was not free of the 
same note : 

“ I hear it. I — I never heard anything 
else just like it. ’Tisn’t just like a rustle, 
or a rumble, or — or I don’t know what to 
call it. But I make it out fast enough I ’’ 

“ Umph I So do I — now,’’ said Lon sharply. 

The sound, by this time, was clearly to be 
distinguished from the steady and monotonous 
beat of the rain, and from the grating of ice 
floes in the river and the splash of waves on 
the bank. In a way it suggested the ap- 
proach of a heavy train — and a train coming 
on at high speed. 

Lon’s arm shot out. His hand closed on 
Sam’s arm. 


BLIND TRAILS 269 

Come on I he shouted to Orkney. 

Hustle for all you're wuth 1 " 

The boys were close behind him as he 
crashed through the bushes, straight away 
from the river. They ran as for their lives, 
while the rumbling sound grew in volume. 
They splashed through a pool, the water of 
which came to their knees. They crossed a 
little ridge, waded another small pond, gained 
higher ground. Here were some trees of con- 
siderable size, and Lon paused an instant as 
if meditating taking shelter among them. 

The rumbling now had grown to a roar, in 
which the other sounds of the storm were lost. 
And whatever was causing it was drawing very 
near the spot where the three stood. Lon 
peered hard up the valley ; then turned toward 
the trees. 

“ May be a climbin' job I " he sang out. 

Look lively, both of you I What's cornin' 
is goin' to be a-plenty, and it's most here." 

Sam, too, had been making swift observa- 
tion, and his eye had caught something which 
had escaped Lon's vision. A patch of light, 
faint, glimmering, half hidden by intervening 
branches — so much he made out. Then it 


270 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

was his turn to shout, “ Come on — quick ! '' 
He broke into a run, and with Tom and 
Lon at his heels hurried toward the light, 
which, feeble though it might be, was like a 
friendly beacon. 

The rumbling roar was thunderous as they 
burst into a clearing and made out the dim 
mass of a building, from which the light 
glimmered. Instinctively they dashed for the 
door. Lon tore desperately at the boards 
which barred it, but Tom and Sam turned to 
the window. From the lips of each burst an 
exclamation of amazement. 

By the light of the fire on the hearth they 
made out two figures. They recognized the 
missing pair. Both Varley and the Shark 
appeared to have been dozing on the floor, 
and just to have been awakened by the omi- 
nous tumult without ; for the one was start- 
ing to his feet, and the other, on hands and 
knees, was peering dazedly through his spec- 
tacles at the window. 

But this was a time for swift action and 
not for pause for inquiries. Lon, abandon- 
ing the door, sprang to his companions. He 
caught Sam, and swung him to the ledge of 


BLIND TRAILS 


2Jl 

the window, which still luckily was open ; 
seized Tom and raised him to the same posi- 
tion of comparative safety. Then as the boys 
dropped to the floor of the room, he climbed 
with all speed after them. Sam, turning, laid 
hold on his arm, dragging him over the ledge, 
just as the thunder seemed to be rolling all 
about them, and just as a wave, palely crested 
with white foam, went swirling down the 
valley, crashing viciously on the foundations 
of the old house and rising to the top of the 
stout masonry. 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE RISING FLOOD 

There was the briefest of exchanges of 
greetings between the friends thus unexpect- 
edly reunited. 

What on earth are you two doing here?^^ 
Sam demanded. “ Haven't you any notion 
of the worry you've made for everybody ? " 

“ Huh I Mind where you're going I " the 
Shark cautioned. Hole in the floor. We 
broke through. Rest of it'll hold, I guess, 
but I wouldn't stamp hard." 

Sam checked his advance in time. He 
glanced curiously at the fractured boards, at 
which the Shark pointed. 

Fell through, did you ? Well, it looks as 
if you did. But I say 1 What did you crawl 
in here for, anyway?" 

Before the Shark could answer, Lon spoke. 
He had remained at the window, and was 
studying as best he might the swift tide pour- 
ing down the valley. 


272 


THE RISING FLOOD 


273 

** Boys, one o^ them dams up-river must 
gone out I That was the first wave of the 
rush that most caught us. There’s a lot o’ 
water still cornin’ along, but ’tain’t quite’s 
high as ’twas. And so, lookin’ at things by 
and large, I guess it was mighty lucky that 
we happened in jest as we did. If nothin’ 
more gives way up above, we ain’t likely to 
be any wuss off than we are now ; and when 
things get kind o’ drained off, as you might 
say, we can toddle on. Meanwhile ” — here 
he turned and glanced at the fire — mean- 
while, that heatin’ contraption looks amazin’ 
good to me.” 

Varley threw on some more wood. Sam 
and Orkney, and then Lon, gingerly skirted 
the hole in the floor and took their places at 
the edge of the hearth. Lon stripped off his 
dripping rubber coat ; Sam and Orkney fol- 
lowed the example. The Shark watched these 
proceedings with a certain grim approval, but 
suddenly his brow clouded. 

See here, you fellows I You were hunt- 
ing for us, as if you thought we were lost? ” 

It was half question, half accusation. Sam 
answered curtly : 


274 the SAFETT first CLUB 

We certainly thought you were.'^ 

“ Huh ! The Shark^s tone was scornful. 

If you had to wander off, why didn’t you 
go back to the Grants’ house?” 

** Had something better to do.” 

^^Here?” 

The Shark hesitated. ** Why — why, not 
exactly here. We were looking for something. 
We found it. Then we happened to see this 
house. It was raining pitchforks, and we de- 
cided to come in out of the wet, and wait for 
a break. And being here, we made ourselves 
as comfortable as we could. You’d have done 
the same thing, wouldn’t you ? ” 

“ What did you suppose we’d think when 
you didn’t turn up? ” 

“ You ought to have known we could take 
care of ourselves.” 

Sam checked the hot retort that was on his 
lips. After all, ** Safety First ” was a sound 
rule in the case of words as well as acts. A 
quarrel would benefit nobody. 

Well, Shark,” he said quietly, “ we feared 
you might have met an accident of some sort, 
and if you had, we wanted to help you.” 

Course you would ! ” cried the Shark, at 


THE RISING FLOOD 


275 

once mollified. And we did have an acci- 
dent — little one, that is. Geeminy I if you'd 
seen us go kerflop through the floor I Patch 
of boards just rotted out, and we had the luck 
to strike it." 

Sam's eyes ranged the room. Old-timer, 
this house," he remarked. 

“ It's very old," Varley put in. We've 
tried to look it over, but it was too dark to see 
much. Still, we could make out that evi- 
dently nobody has lived here for years." 

Lon, too, had been making observations. 

Boys," he said, if I ain't way off the track, 
this is jest the plummest oldest house any- 
where in these parts. It'll be the old Dominie 
Pike place, or I'm a hornpout I " 

“The Dominie Pike place?" Orkney 
echoed. 

“ Yep. His house Mis' Grant was tollin' 
us about — the last one he built." 

Orkney moved away from the Are. Very 
slowly he made a circuit of the room, inspect- 
ing it with manifest interest, so far as the un- 
certain light permitted. 

Sam went to the window. The rain was 
still falling heavily ; water surrounded the 


2/6 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

house, but the rapidity of the current appeared 
to have lessened. As well as he could de- 
termine, the top of the foundation was just 
above water. 

Meanwhile Lon was adding to the fire. He 
caught the eye of Sam, as the latter turned 
back from the window, and winked meaningly. 

Nothin^ like makin^ yourself to hum,^^ he 
remarked, and that there blaze does go to the 
right spot — no, to the right spots, by ginger I 
for those clothes o^ mine must V been leakin' 
all over. My notion is, we're mighty lucky 
to be right here this minute. Tell you a 
house comes in mighty handy when you need 
one. By the way, Varley " — he paused briefiy 
— by the way, I s'pose these boys told you 
how once this crowd was amazin' glad to put 
up at old Calleck's shack." 

I've heard something about it," said Paul, 
but not the whole story." 

Lon was grinning reminiscently. Like this 
case it was, some ways — other ways 'twa'n't. 
Blizzard caught us that time, and now it's a 
fiood. Both times, though, we needed fire 
and a roof — generally do in these parts, 'less 
it may be for a month or so in summer. So 


THE RISING FLOOD 


277 

old Calleck^s ruin seemed mighty good to us. 
This house’s a reg’lar palace ’longside of it. 
But what’d you expect ? Old Calleck was a 
queer coot, that went away from other folks to 
build a place in the woods, while Dominie 
Pike cleared his place in the woods to kind o’ 
encourage other folks to come in and settle. 
And some folks do say this must be jest the 
spot where the Dominie and the Indian had 
their big run-in. But then likely’s not you’ve 
all heard that yarn.” 

We haven’t I ” 

Tell us I ” 

Fire ahead ! ” 

Lon grinned again. No doubt he was well 
pleased to see his plan to draw the boys’ 
thoughts from their plight bearing results. 

Wal, way the story’s handed down’s 
about like this : The Dominie was an explorer, 
and he worked in here ahead of the settlers. 
But for all he knew the ways of the woods, he 
was plumb lost when he came to Sugar Valley. 
And one reason he’d missed his bearin’s was 
that for two-three days he’d been kinder both- 
ered by a notion somebody was doggin’ his 
track. Funny part was, he couldn’t be sure 


278 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

— that is, he couldn^t get a squint at the crit- 
ter he sensed was after him. And, bein' the 
man he was, the Dominie didn't let the huntin' 
go all on one side. He turned to and hunted 
the hunter, which was what we'd call a sporty 
proposition, but helped to mix him up. 
Course, if he hadn't been bothered, he could 
'a' found the road back ; but bein' a lot both- 
ered, he was as good as lost, for the time bein'. 
And so one night he was bivouackin' out 
in the open, right along here, I guess ; and 
bunkin' close to a big tree and keepin' one eye 
open and maybe both ears listenin' — well, after 
a while, he was surer than ever that t'other 
party was mighty dost. Now, the Dominie 
wasn't the citizen to make trouble walk its 
legs off cornin' to meet him. He started for 
the half-way point or better, with his old flint- 
lock primed and ready to do business. There 
was a big moon, and when he came to a nat'ral 
meadow, he could see 'most as plain as day. 
And all of a sudden he did see something. 
An Injun was stealin', stealthy like, out of the 
opposite edge of the woods. Just as the brave 
cleared the cover, though, something else shot 
like a growlin' streak off the limb of a tree, 


THE RISING FLOOD 


279 

and in a jiffy there was the pootiest Inj un- 
panther fight you ever heard of. 

‘‘The Dominie’s gun jumped to his shoul- 
der — that was what you’d call instinctive, I 
guess. Then he run forward. Way things 
were, he didn’t feel like wastin’ powder and 
ball — took time, remember, to charge up them 
old shootin’ irons. Then something mighty 
queer happened. 

“ The big cat was chain lightnin’, but that 
Injun wa’n’t so slow himself. He’d half 
ducked the panther’s spring, though he’d 
caught a clawin’ doin’ it; and the cat had 
overshot, as you might say, and was crouchin’ 
for a second spring when it sighted the Domi- 
nie. For about a second it was a three-cor- 
nered puzzle, with the Dominie with his gun 
at his shoulder, and the Injun trainin’ his ar- 
tillery for action — yes, he had a gun, too — 
and the panther switchin’ its tail and makin’ 
up its mind whether it’d jump for the white 
man or the red. And the brave’s gun was 
a-swingin’ as if he wa’n’t quite clear whether 
he’d better pot the brute or the white man. 
Now seein’ these things, as the Dominie seen 
’em, there’s some folks as ’d kept that Injun 


28 o the SAFETT first CLUB 


covered, anyhow, sayin^ as how the scrap was 
his to begin with. But that wahi’t Dominie 
Pike’s way. Sot in his notions, the Dominie 
was; and one of them was that he’d rather 
shoot wild beasts than humans. So he put a 
ball through that panther’s head, and took 
his chances o’ the red brother collectin’ 
his scalp. Which he didn’t — as this house, 
which the Dominie built years afterward, 
shows.” 

Lon paused, but there was a chorus of de- 
mands that he go on with the story. What 
did the Indian do? Why didn’t he attack 
the Dominie ? 

Lon chuckled softly, perhaps more at 
thought of his success in holding the atten- 
tion of the boys away from their predicament 
than at the continuation of the anecdote. 

“ Wall, I wa’n’t there, so I can’t make no 
affidavits. But the yarn goes that when that 
Injun seen the panther drop, he laid down his 
gun like a gentleman and a good sport. And 
the Dominie laid down his — course, ’twa’n’t 
loaded, but the move showed a friendly, give 
and take spirit. And both of ’em took a step 
forward, and looked each other over in the 


THE RISING FLOOD 281 


moonlight. Then they took another look, 
and the Dominie said something. The Injun 
said something back. His lingo was new to 
the Dominie mostly, but some words he could 
make out. And, after a long while, each got 
kind of a line on the other. Each was lost — 
there’s a funny part of it.” 

But an Indian wouldn’t be lost in the 
woods,” Sam objected. 

Lon shook his head. Wrong there, Sam. 
This Injun was lost. Course, if he hadn’t 
been bothered, and if his grub held out, he’d 
have worked his way back ; but, as ’twas, he 
was a stray from the country he knew. So 
he and the Dominie, once makin’ friends, 
could hit it out fine, both bein’ in the same 
box. And they did hit it out. Dominie Pike 
allers got along fust rate with the Injuns, any- 
how. But it was while he was connivin’ with 
this special Injun that he got acquainted with 
Sugar Valley and decided to move in and set- 
tle permanent.” 

Tom Orkney spoke in the incisive fashion 
he had. That story ih the Dominie’s diary, 
Lon ? ” 

“ Reckon so. Not that I ever saw the book, 


282 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 


though — remember, don’t you, what Mis’ 
Grant told us about its gettin’ lost?” 

I remember,” said Tom. 

Lon put another stick on the fire. “ How’s 
the supply of fuel ? ” he inquired. And 
where might the wood-pile happen to be?” 

I’ll show you,” cried Varley ; and, eager 
to bear his full part, began to lower himself 
through the hole in the fioor. There was the 
sound of a loud splashing, and in an instant 
Paul, drenched to the knees, was scrambling 
back. 

Cellar’s flooded I ” he shouted excitedly. 

Water’s almost up to the floor beams 1 ” 

’Twould be, of course,” said Lon coolly. 

Yes, we should have thought of that,” 
Sam agreed. Wait a minute, though, fel- 
lows.” 

Again he went to the window, and peered 
out. The darkness was intense ; the rain con- 
tinued to fall heavily. It was largely guess- 
work, but his impression was that there had 
been a slight rise in the water about the house 
since his last observation. 

Sam turned to his companions. He was 
quite aware of the need of keeping his head. 


THE RISING FLOOD 283 

Things are no better,” he retorted, “ but 
we could hardly expect them to be.” 

“ Not with this rain poundin^ down,” Lon 
put in. 

Still, they^re not much worse,” Sam 
added. 

And we’re safe and snug, with a roof over 

us.” 

The Shark grunted. Huh I It’s a leak- 
ing roof. Look there I ” 

He pointed to a dark patch of moisture on 
one of the walls. 

“Oh, that?” Lon tried to speak lightly. 
“ Guess there may be a few of the old shingles 
loose.” 

The Shark jerked a thumb over his shoulder. 
“ If you look in the corner, you’ll find a small 
waterfall going. I’ve been hearing the splash 
for a quarter of an hour. I don’t care a rap, 
but I do like to have things stated accurately. 
The roof must be like a sieve I ” 

“Oh, well, what are the odds?” queried 
Sam, as cheerily as he could. 

The Shark waved a hand. “ I’m not kick- 
ing on the facts, but on the errors of statement 
— that’s all.” 


284 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Well, state it to suit yourself,’’ said 
Sam ; but the Shark did not accept the in- 
vitation. 

There was a pause in the talk, and it was a 
long pause. The drip, drip of more than one 
little stream was audible, except when the 
noises from without rose above all other 
sounds. The fall of the rain was like a steady 
drone ; the wind was beginning to rise, and 
now and then a squall whipped the branches 
of an overhanging tree against the house ; at 
intervals could be heard the harsh grating of 
ice against ice, as the floes went drifting by. 
Twice or thrice floating masses struck the 
house blows that made the old structure 
tremble, and then ground along the side till 
the flood carried them clear. 

Not a member of the party from Lon down 
to the Shark but was considering their situa- 
tion and its dangers, each in his own way. 
For all the conclusion was the same : there 
was nothing for it but to remain where they 
were. If the flood rose no higher, they would 
not fare very badly. The house, ancient 
though it might be, plainly was still a strong 
structure, capable of withstanding much batter- 


THE RISING FLOOD 285 

ing. Lon, who broke the silence, phrased the 
opinion of the group : 

“ When the old Dominie built, he built for 
keeps — no jerry work for him, I tell you 1 
Big beams, heavy timbers — wood was the 
cheapest thing outdoors in his times. And 
wooden pegs to hold ^em together. Why, 
boys, Fve seen folks tryin’ to tear down an 
old house like this one, and they pretty nigh 
had to use dynamite to unjoint the frame. 
Don't believe that? UmphI They had to 
use a yoke of oxen, then, if that'll suit you 
better." 

“ Either story suits us well enough," said 
Sam ; and with that the talk languished. 

Now and then one or another went to the 
window, peered out, came back, hovered over 
the fire. It was dying down now, and the 
stock of available fuel was running short. 
But already there were warnings that it would 
not be long before the fire would be put out in 
another way. 

The water in the cellar had risen to the 
level of the fioor of the room. From the gap 
where the Shark and Varley had broken 
through, a pool was spreading toward the 


286 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 


walls. Through the door, too, a stream was 
trickling, a tiny stream at first, but steadily 
growing in volume. 

There was no way to check the rising tide, 
and the boys silently watched the water ap- 
proach the hearth. At last it reached the 
glowing coals. There was a faint, hissing 
sound. A little pufi* of steam rose, gleamed 
white for an instant, faded away. A black 
border of drenched ashes was slowly widening 
and nearing the heart of the fire. 

Sam turned to the Shark. There’s an 
upper story ; there’ll be stairs, of course. 
Looked around any, have you ? ” 

The Shark nodded. ‘‘We looked. Yes, 
there are stairs — we didn’t go up. Pretty 
dark it was.” 

“ It’ll be darker now, but we’ll have to try 
’em,” said Sam quietly. 

Again the Shark nodded. “ Figured it 
would come to that. So I saved this.” He 
pulled from within his jacket a piece of pine 
board. “ This was dry and I guess I’ve kept 
it so. Lot of pitch in it, too. Ought to make 
sort of a torch. Wait a minute I ” 

Bending forward, he thrust an end of the 


THE RISING FLOOD 287 

piece of wood into the flame still burning at 
the back of the hearth. There was a sputter, 
a spark or two flew. Then a jet of smoke shot 
out, and a yellow tongue curled about the end 
of the pine board. 

Protecting the precious flame with his 
cupped hand, the Shark followed Sam 
through the doorway, and into the hall of 
the old house, wading through water ankle 
deep as they went. After them filed the 
others, Lon bringing up the rear. 


CHAPTER XVIII 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 

The hallway of the ancient structure was 
curiously small in contrast with the big room 
the boys had just left. It was, indeed, little 
more than a box of an entry, with a winding 
stair in one corner, a plan of construction 
made necessary, no doubt, by the huge 
chimney in the middle of the house. In 
making the most of limited space, however, 
the designer had produced a crowded effect, 
even when the hall was bare of fittings, as it 
now was. 

With the draft created by the fire and the 
open window, the air in the room the boys 
had just left had freshened considerably ; but 
the hall was full of a stale and musty odor. 
The torch burned feebly. Once it seemed to 
be on the point of being extinguished, but the 
Shark by careful nursing saved the flame. 

Sam laid hand on the old-fashioned rail of 
the stairway. 


288 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 289 

‘‘ One at a time/' he said. “ If there are 
any weak spots, we don't want to tumble 
through them in a crowd. Safety First ! " 

“ Sure thing — Varley and I got enough of 
the other scheme I " quoth the Shark. Go 
ahead, Sam ! " 

A bit gingerly Sam began the ascent of the 
flight. The old boards creaked and groaned 
under his weight, but there was no indication 
of serious weakness in them or their supports. 

The flickering light from the torch left the 
top of the stairs in deep shadow. The ex- 
plorer inferred rather than was certain that 
the upper hall was merely a landing by which 
one could reach the rooms on either side. 
Still holding the rail, he called out to the 
others to follow, one by one. 

Orkney gave Varley a push, and thus 
settled the order of precedence ; for the Shark 
elected to be No. 3, keeping the light in the 
midst of the party. Then Lon shoved Orkney 
ahead, much as Tom had encouraged Paul, 
and made himself the rear-guard. The stairs 
groaned and creaked more dolefully than 
ever, but held firm. 

Sam, meanwhile, had edged across the land- 


290 THE SHFETT FIRST CLUB 

ing and into one of the rooms, the door of 
which stood open. It happened to be directly 
above the apartment they had first entered, 
and, so far as he could make out, corresponded 
with it in size, though it was still lower of 
ceiling. A gleam from the smoking pine 
stick showed that, like the room below, it had 
a fireplace. 

While the air was a trifle better than on 
the lower floor, Sam lost no time in getting 
at a window ; and when the sash stuck, he 
promptly smashed a couple of the small panes. 
Incidentally, he made note that the rain was 
falling steadily. 

In this upper chamber the proofs of the 
leaks in the roof were numerous. Little 
streams were running down all four of the 
walls, against one of which, where probably 
the beams sagged, a pool a yard or more 
across had formed. Other parts of the floor, 
however, were still dry. Very few of the 
furnishings had been left in the room. The 
tall headboard of an old-fashioned bedstead 
leaned against a wall, and near the hearth 
was a heavy settle, too bulky, probably, to 
have made it worth while to go to the trouble 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 291 

of removing it. It furnished a seat for Lon 
and Orkney, while Varley and the Shark 
joined Sam in the inspection of their refuge. 
This completed, the three joined the two be- 
fore the fireplace. The Shark stuck his brand 
in a crevice between two bricks ; watched its 
none too vigorous flame for a moment ; stepped 
forward and extinguished it. 

‘‘ Guess we'll economize on the illumina- 
tion," he said. “ When this is gone, I don’t 
know where the next’ll come from. And 
who’s afraid of the dark, anyway ? " 

Nobody made reply to this query. There 
was a pause ; then Sam asked, a little sharply, 
if the Shark were sure his supply of matches 
was protected from the dampness. In turn, 
the question led to a reckoning of the stock 
of all the party. Orkney had a metal pocket- 
case, well filled ; Lon had a score of matches 
loose in a waistcoat pocket ; Sam himself 
could contribute a dozen. In this respect, at 
least, they were prepared for emergencies. 
Sam heard somebody’s sigh of relief in the 
darkness, and sympathized with it. 

Truth to tell, the adventurers were now in 
the midst of one of their most trying experi- 


292 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

ences. The gloom of the room ; the inaction ; 
the forced waiting — all these things tested 
grit. For the time being, they seemed to be 
safe enough, but nobody could tell what the 
conditions might be an hour hence. The 
flood continued to rise about the old house. 
Sam’s observations from the window were 
confirmed by Orkney, who felt his way down 
the stairs, but only to return with word that 
the water was encountered half-way down the 
flight. 

Again Sam felt the responsibility which 
falls to a leader. He whispered a word in 
Lon’s ear ; and Lon, good fellow that he was, 
did his best to cheer his companions. He 
racked his memory for tales of Dominie Pike 
and his exploits, and embroidered the tradi- 
tions with his own inventions, perhaps, for 
quaint tales they were which he told of the 
pioneer days in Sugar Valley. Sam noted 
that Tom Orkney was especially interested. 
Varley, too, put an occasional question ; but 
there was nothing to indicate that the Shark 
was at all attentive. 

Sam, presently, crept to the Shark’s side. 
Lon was in the midst of a yarn, and was 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 293 

talking loudly ; there was small danger that 
a whispered conversation would be overheard. 

‘‘ Oh, Shark ! ” Sam spoke very softly. 

“ Eh ? What ? The Shark's response was 
in like tone. 

“ I've been wondering — say I ought to be 
some limit to this sort of thing — rise of the 
river, I mean. What's your notion?" 

Pure conjecture I " Low as the reply was, 
it had a shade of testiness. 

‘‘I know — but what's your conjecture? 
Your line, you know — figuring — all that." 

The Shark considered briefiy. “ Well, I'll 
tell you, Sam. Something's happened." 

Don't need to tell me that I " growled 
Sam. 

“ You don't understand. I mean, some- 
thing's happened more than a common spring 
freshet. The rain and the melting snow filled 
the river, as I saw, and as you must have seen, 
too. But ordinarily the river takes care of 
the most of the water — the Grants spoke as if 
there'd been little trouble in other years. 
This time, though — well, you know how 
much snow there was, and how quickly it 
goes under a rain like this. And Mr. Grant 


294 the SAFETT first CLUB 

said they'd been having the storm up-stream 
a good while before it hit us. One of the 
dams must have gone out — that’d account 
for the tidal wave — if you can call it that — 
which came rushing down the valley.'' 

‘‘ I see," said Sam. “ It's reasonable." 

Of course it is — I'm telling you," said the 
Shark simply. Listen now, though ! If 
nothing else had happened, once the crest of 
the wave had passed, we'd have seen the 
water begin to go down. Why ? Because the 
natural drainage would be taking care of it. 
Pour a pitcher of water into a set-bowl, when 
the plug isn't in the outlet, and after a few 
seconds you'll see the level lowering. Drop 
the plug in place, and the bowl stays full. 
And I tell you, Sam, Sugar Valley is a lot 
like a big bowl." 

But " 

The Shark disregarded the interruption. 

Hold on ! Let me finish. There's a plausi- 
ble explanation of our fix. Our big bowl is 
plugged, and if it is, the plug is an ice jam. 
Remember how narrow the gorge is at the 
foot of the valley ? Remember how the 
bridge piers clutter it up? Well, then I 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 295 

Plain as the nose on your face I River car- 
ries down a lot of big chunks. They pile 
up against the bridges and wedge together. 
Then along comes a lot of logs and floating 
riffraff* to All in the cracks. That’s how you 
get your dam that’ll turn the valley into a 
big pond. The water can’t run off, so it stays 
here and keeps rising and rising.” 

But how much longer can it keep on 
rising ? ” 

Can’t say. Lack data. As I recall that 
map, though, I don’t believe we’ve seen high 
water mark yet — not by a long shot I ” 

But the dam — if there is one ? ” 

Well, they mostly use dynamite to blow 
up ice jams. So I guess it’s a question of how 
soon somebody gets to this one with a car- 
tridge.” 

Sam groaned. The Shark put out a hand 
in the darkness and caught his arm. 

Nobody’s fault, this fix. Couldn’t get to 
high ground after that wave came along. 
Doubt if we could have made it before that — 
lot of low places in between. Nobody to 
blame. Sensible thing to stay here. That’s 
the whole story.” 


296 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

“ I hope so/^ said Sam very soberly. He 
shook off the hand, and moved to the window. 
Dark as the night was, he could not escape 
conviction that the water was still climbing 
higher and higher. 

Lon brought his story to a close, and there 
was silence in the room. It made all the 
more marked the noises without, the beat of 
the rain, the swirl of the flood against the 
house. There were other sounds, too, weird 
and mysterious, some faint and far off ; others 
near at hand and still more disturbing. As 
for the house itself, it seemed to be straining 
like a ship in a storm, while it hardly needed 
a lively fancy to And in its shaking a hint of 
the trembling of a vessel’s hull under the 
pounding of big waves. Yet it was evident 
that the stout old building was withstanding 
the flood better than many a more modern 
and more lightly constructed house could 
have hoped to withstand it. Nevertheless, 
there was mighty complaint of beam and up- 
right, which was not cheering to hear. Sam, 
listening and watchful, was a bit encouraged. 
The house might shake from roof to founda- 
tion, but it seemed to be coming to no harm. 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 297 

The huge chimney, doubtless, was like a brace 
to the entire structure. 

Even if the house stood, though, there re- 
mained another question to be answered : How 
long would the flood continue to rise? 

The Shark plainly feared that they were 
still far from the greatest peril from this 
source. Sam had to own that the fear might 
be justified. The suggestion of an ice jam and 
ice dam at the foot of the valley could not be 
verified, of course, but it was possible to gauge 
the steady rise of the water. Sam made the 
stairs a practical register. From time to time 
he ventured down them, and regularly found 
the invading flood a little higher than before. 

The hours wore away slowly. At intervals 
some one or another of the refugees announced 
the time, striking a match ostensibly in order 
to glance at his watch, but taking remarkable 
care to save the tiny flame as long as possible. 
Everybody craved light. Lack of it was, in 
fact, the hardest part of the ordeal. Warmth, 
too, would have been welcome, but the night 
was not cold and the need of a fire was felt 
less acutely than the dispiriting effect of the 
dense darkness. 


^98 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Talk was intermittent. Now and again 
somebody would rouse to interest in some 
aspect of their situation, and perhaps stir his 
neighbors to join in a discussion, and Lon 
told a dozen stories ; but there were half-hours 
when nobody spoke. Sam, with his sense of 
responsibility strong upon him, studied his 
companions. The Shark caused him little 
concern. Silent meditation was quite in keep- 
ing with the habits of the mathematical youth, 
and Sam had no reason to doubt his nerve in 
case of grave emergency. 

Varley was more puzzling. Unquestion- 
ably the city boy was under a greater strain 
than his comrades, because of the entire nov- 
elty of his surroundings. The others knew 
more or less about abandoned farmhouses, but 
such a place as the Dominie Pike homestead 
was wholly strange to Paul. Seemingly, he 
was of good courage, and his conduct won 
Sam^s approving respect. 

Oddly enough, Tom Orkney presented an- 
other problem. Tom ordinarily was a reti- 
cent, self-contained fellow; but this night he 
took a leading share in the talk. He ap- 
peared to be intensely interested in everything 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 299 

he could learn about the old Dominie, and 
plied Lon with queries. Finally, he borrowed 
the Shark’s stump of pine wood, lighted it, 
and began a careful examination of the room. 
This finished, he restored the torch to its 
owner and guardian, who promptly extin- 
guished the flame and stowed the precious 
remnant in an inside pocket of his jacket. 

“Well, found out anything?” Sam asked, 
as Tom dropped beside him. 

“ I don’t know — I’m not certain,” Orkney 
answered slowly. “Somehow, though, I think 
I’ve got a line or two. I believe this room 
was the Dominie’s own — his study, maybe.” 

“ What I An up-stairs study ? ” 

“ Sounds unreasonable. I’ll admit, consider- 
ing the plain living of the old days. But 
there’s a fireplace, and it looks as if there was 
a sort of closet on each side of the chimney, 
or hiding place — I don’t know exactly what 
to call it. What makes me think so? Well, 
I can’t be sure, but I suspect there’s wood 
fitted in among the bricks and made to look 
just like them. Anyway, that’s the feel of it ! ” 
“ The feel ? ” Sam asked skeptically. 

“ Try it yourself. Come along — I’ll show 


300 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

you/’ said Orkney, and got upon his feet. 
Sam, too, rose. 

Orkney made his way back to the chimney, 
Sam following. There, under Tom’s direc- 
tion, he groped about the brickwork, without 
arriving at any clear conclusion. 

If I could see anything, it would be dif- 
ferent,” he remarked. But this thing — say, 
my fingers are numb, anyway I I can’t feel 
anything but clammy dampness. But what’s 
the idea you’re working on ? ” 

“ Oh, I don’t know — sort of a notion — a 
hunch, maybe.” 

What kind of a hunch? 

It — it’s pretty vague,” Orkney confessed. 

Sam, not deeply impressed but willing 
enough that Orkney should find even such 
diversion, moved back to the window. From 
sounds which proceeded, presently, from the 
direction of the chimney he inferred that Tom 
had taken out his knife and was scratching 
away at the old mortar. After a little, how- 
ever, he lost consciousness of this activity, 
and, indeed, of a good deal more ; for he fell 
into an uneasy doze. 

Subsequently on comparing notes, the boys 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 301 

had to admit, one and all, that in spite of 
their perils they caught some sleep in the 
course of the night. Probably all of them 
slept longer than they realized. Sam, at any 
rate, must have passed from doze to sound 
slumber; for when he was awakened by a 
tremendous crash there was a second or two 
in which he did not realize where he was or 
how he came to be there. The old house was 
still trembling violently from the concussion, 
as well as from a series of minor blows, as the 
object which had collided with it was carried 
along, grinding and pounding against the side 
of the building. 

In the room there was something closely 
akin to panic for a moment. Varley shouted 
wildly for help. Lon was scrambling to the 
window. Sam heard Orkney cry out, and 
caught distinctly the Shark’s shrill whistle, 
and close-following comment : 

Whew I There’s bulk, with momentum, 
for you I Say, what was it ? ” 

Sam found himself peering over Lon’s 
shoulder. Certainly there was a slight lessen- 
ing of the darkness. He could make out 
dimly a black mass drifting by. 


302 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Great Scott I but that must be one o’ them 
big barges from the brick yards I ” Lon 
groaned. Use ’em to freight the bricks 
down to the railroad, they do. But the yards 
are up above the big dam. If that’s one o’ 
their boats, it means that dam has gone out 
as well as the little fellow we’ve been figgerin’ 
on. Jeewhillikens I but this is a reg’lar grand- 
daddy of a flood I Must be, for they haul the 
barges out winters, and the one that hit us 
must ’a’ been well up the bank. And look 
how the water’s riz, anyhow ! ” 

Sam looked ; that is, he gazed as at a dark 
curtain, and saw a pale glimmer just discern- 
ible at what he estimated to be but a few 
inches below the level of the upper floor. As 
he was continuing his observations, Orkney 
plucked at his sleeve. 

That jolt pretty nearly got to us, Sam. 
I’ve been scouting out in the hall. I couldn’t 
see much, but it looks as if the whole corner 
had been torn out of the room on the other 
side. And the house — what’s left of it, I 
mean, is askew. Floor of the hall’s tilted 
like a hillside.” 

Sam made reconnaissance for himself, and 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 303 

found that Tom had by no means exaggerated 
the conditions. He returned to the room, to 
discover that Orkney was again scratching at 
the chimney. From the neighborhood of the 
window Lon spoke : 

“ Boys, I dunno but we’ll have to move 
along pooty soon — water sure is climbin’ and 
climbin’. So as I hate to take a jump in the 
dark, as you might say, I guess I’ll go scoutin’ 
for some road that leads higher, too. Jest you 
wait here, and I’ll let you know what I find out.” 

In a moment more they could hear him in 
the hall ; but several minutes passed before he 
called out to the Shark to bring him what 
was left of the torch. The Shark obeyed ; 
and, presently, there was a creak of rusty 
hinges, and Lon called out cheerily : 

‘^It’s all right I Attic stairs jest about 
where I cal’lated they ought to be. That’s 
enough of the light, son. Put it out and save 
the pieces till we need ’em again.” 

Then back came Lon and his torch-bearer 
to join Sam and Varley and Orkney in the 
nerve-testing task of waiting for the steadily 
rising flood to drive them from their refuge. 

How long they waited none of them knew. 


304 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

To Sam it seemed to be hours and hours be- 
fore a chance movement of his was marked 
by the splash of his foot in water. Through 
the open door a tidy little stream was pouring 
into the room from the hall. 

Now the old house was creaking and groan- 
ing, and without were all the noises of the 
storm, but not one of the party missed that 
splash or misunderstood its meaning. 

Heh ! Time to go, ain’t it?” Lon tried 
to speak lightly, but his tone betrayed his ex- 
citement. 

'‘Yes, it’s time,” Sam said; his voice, too, 
was shaking. 

“ All right I Light up, Shark,” Lon di- 
rected. “ You and me’ll go ahead, seein’ as 
how we know the way. Rest o’ you keep 
dost to us.” 

The Shark’s torch was but an inch or two 
of blackened, resinous pine, and its flame was 
no greater than that of a toy candle. Still, it 
enabled Sam to observe Orkney digging away 
at the bricks of the chimney with furious 
haste. 

“ Drop that, Tom, and come along,” he 
called. 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 305 

Orkney gave no heed to the summons. In- 
stead, he worked more desperately than ever. 

“ Give me time I I — I^m getting there ! ” 
he declared. 

The Shark was moving toward the door. 
The faint beams of his torch quite failed to 
reach the spot where Orkney stood. Sam had 
no notion of what Tom might be about, but 
he had strongly developed opinions on the 
unwisdom of tarrying. He strode across the 
room, grasped Orkney's shoulder. The other 
resisted briefly. In a vague way Sam conjec- 
tured that he was groping about the chimney. 
Also he remembered, afterward, that Orkney 
uttered a queer little exclamation, which 
seemed to betoken satisfaction, then ceased 
his resistance. 

Come on ! " Sam urged, and Orkney 
came. Possibly Sam felt rather than saw that 
Tom was thrusting something into the pro- 
tection of his closely buttoned coat ; but what 
was of far greater immediate importance was 
the depth of the invading water, through 
which they had to wade. It was ankle-deep 
in the half-wrecked hall ; it was over the 
lower step of the steep and narrow stair lead- 


3o6 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

ing to the attic, up which Lon and Varley al- 
ready had passed. 

The Shark, standing at the foot of the flight 
and cherishing his feeble beacon, growled his 
opinion of those who delayed. 

What you fellows dillydallying for? 
Think I’m a government lighthouse that’s 
bound to keep going, anyway ? This thing’s 
nothing but one coal, and it’s getting to me — 
ouch I I can’t keep on holding it till day- 
light I ” 

Sam and Orkney, thus exhorted, quickened 
their pace. But as they did so, Lon raised a 
shout, in which was a ring of jubilation : 

'' Hullo, everybody I Speakin’ o’ daylight, 
I can see something that’s mighty good for 
my sore eyes. What is it, eh? Well, it’s 
where there used to be roof, and where there 
ain’t any roof left now. But in place of it 
is jest the cheerfulest patch o’ mighty nigh 
washed out dawn that ever showed over to the 
east’ard. It’s mornin’, boys, or ’twill be in a 
few shakes of a lamb’s tail. Oh, well, see for 
yourselves then, if you ain’t willin’ to believe 
me.” 

The Shark dropped his torch — it went out 


THROUGH THE LONG NIGHT 307 

with a hiss in the pool at his feet — and raced 
up the stair. Orkney and Sam dashed after 
him. 

What Lon had told them was true. An end 
of the roof was missing — carried away, per- 
haps, by the barge. And there the sky showed 
gray and dull, yet with the early dawn upon it. 

No doubt the attic was even more cheerless, 
otherwise, than the room they had just quitted, 
but that patch of light made amends for every- 
thing. What if the drenching rain had poured 
through the break until the place were half- 
afloat ? What if here the tumult of the storm 
and of the flood were louder and more men- 
acing than ever? The darkness had been the 
direst of their troubles, and now it was about 
to be ended. 

The missing segment of roof extended close 
to the floor at one end. Sam had no trouble 
in looking out. And he it was who made a 
discovery, at which he raised a cry as jubilant 
as Lon’s had been but a moment before. 

Under the gray sky the flooded river spread 
like a black lake all about them. But close 
at hand, drifting directly toward the house, 
was that which he longed most to see. 


3o8 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

A boat I A boat I ’’ 

His call brought his companions to his side. 
Eagerly they gazed, and joined in a chorus of 
hails to the navigators. There were two of 
these. Each had been sitting huddled on a 
thwart ; each roused to activity at sound of 
human voices, and, catching up a piece of 
board, fell to paddling wildly. 

The Shark needed spectacles to improve his 
vision, yet it fell to his lot to be first to recog- 
nize the boatmen. 

“ Jupiter Crickets I Poke and Step I he 
gasped ; and in his tone was more bewilder- 
ment than delight. 


CHAPTER XIX 


WHAT BEFELL POKE AND STEP 

It will be recalled that in the division of 
forces for the search Herman Boyd and the 
Trojan were detailed to follow the road down 
the valley, making inquiries at each house 
and seeking news of the missing Shark and 
Varley. 

This duty they performed conscientiously, 
but wholly without result. 

Nobody had seen or heard anything of the 
pair. From each house which was provided 
with a telephone the boys made report to Mrs. 
Grant and learned from her that seemingly 
the other hunters were having no better for- 
tune. More than once they were advised to 
give up their task and accept shelter and re- 
freshment ; but they declined the invitations 
and resumed their march. What is more, they 
did not restrict themselves to inquiries of the 
residents, but now and then made a detour 
toward the river. It was to be observed, as 
309 


310 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

they neared the foot of the valley, that the 
lowlands were flooded in many places. The 
boys agreed that their prospects of success were 
not bright, but neither was willing to turn 
back. 

“ We^ll keep on as far as the bridges, any- 
way,’^ the Trojan said. Sam^d expect us to 
do that much.” 

Herman nodded. He^d keep on, if he 
were here.” 

Sure he would I ” 

“ Yes, old Sam’s a sticker.” 

“ Then weTl be stickers, too : we won’t fail 
him.” 

This decided, they continued their tramp. 
And while they went splashing and sloshing 
along the road, which was by no means a poor 
imitation of a canal in places. Step and Poke, 
heading in the opposite direction, were hav- 
ing a very similar experience. 

The tall youth and his plump chum were 
quite as much in earnest as were Herman and 
the Trojan, but temperamentally were not so 
well fitted to carry out a commander’s orders 
implicitly. Besides, under the depressing 
weather conditions. Poke could hardly avoid 


POKE AND STEP 311 

meditation upon the sorrows of his own lot. 
With rain driving in his face and snow water 
at times a quarter-way up the legs of his rub- 
ber boots, it is scarcely to be wondered that he 
tended to the pessimistic view. To tell the 
truth, Poke liked the comfortable things of 
life, and turned regretfully from the warm 
kitchens of the farmhouses at which he halted 
to ask the question, to which there was reg- 
ularly the same answer. Nobody had seen a 
smallish boy in glasses and a larger boy who 
didn’t wear glasses. 

Trudging on, doggedly and faithfully. Poke 
relapsed into a dull silence, which at last at- 
tracted the attention of Step. The latter was 
not unmindful of his friend’s mood ; in fact, 
he tried to show his sympathy. Ordinarily, 
the two got on famously, but now Step con- 
trived to strike a jarring note. 

“ Oh, buck up. Poke ; buck up I ” he urged. 

Luck’ll have to turn. You ought to be able 
to see that.” 

Now, this was meant in all kindness, but 
it did not fall pleasingly on Poke’s ear. 
Doubtless the fault was his own, not Step’s. 

Huh ! Talk’s cheap I ” he growled. 


312 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Step flushed wrathfully. “ Oh, well, if you 
don’t want to see, you don’t have to, you 
chump I ” 

“ Huh I Chump, am I ? Well, if I had a 
periscope-pole neck like yours I could see a 
lot of funny things, too.” 

This was personal insult, so intended and so 
received. Step pulled up short. 

Periscope neck, eh ? Well, I’d rather have 
one like that than be a human flat-iron I ” 

Poke halted, too. He glared up at Step as 
savagely as Step was glaring down at him. 
Together they presented a quaint scene of 
wrath, standing there in slush to their ankles 
and with the rain running down their long 
coats in little streams. The humor of the 
situation escaped Poke, but he was quick 
witted enough to take advantage of the cir- 
cumstance that Step had been first to pause. 
He cut short his own delay, and took as long 
a stride as his short legs permitted. 

“ That’s right — be a quitter I ” he said over 
his shoulder. ** Anything to get out of hunt- 
ing for Varley and the Shark, of course I ” 

Step was beside him in an instant. “ Quit- 
ter, eh?” he snarled. “We’ll see who’ll be 


POKE AND STEP 


313 

first to lay down his playthings in this 
game I ” 

“ Oh, then you haven’t really laid them 
down, eh ? ” said Poke with crafty sweetness. 
“ Isn’t it too bad it looked so much like 
that?” 

Step merely gritted his teeth in reply, and 
set a pace which put Poke into a dog-trot to 
keep abreast of him. 

It was, of course, the most trivial of quar- 
rels, but like some other trifies in life fated to 
have consequences out of all ratio to its real 
importance. It made both boys determined 
to go on with the hunt without much regard 
for reason. Also it brought it about that 
when in the growing darkness the flood came 
sweeping down the valley in a fine wave. Poke 
and Step were still marching along, each more 
intent upon wearing out the other than upon 
keeping keen watch for danger. 

Luckily, the roar of the approaching water 
gave even these preoccupied youths some warn- 
ing. Luckily, too, though the road they were 
then traveling was close to the river, they 
were near a tiny hillock on which stood a 
shed such as farmers sometimes build in re- 


314 the SAFETT first CLUB 

mote fields to protect stock or tools. Poke 
and Step dashed for its shelter, and were well 
above the wave as it went raging down the 
valley. However, it left them on what was 
now an island, safe for the time being, but 
cut off from the shore by a hundred yards or 
more of deeply inundated swale. 

Poke clutched Step, and Step clung to Poke, 
their bickering forgotten and peace restored. 
In a moment they were as thoroughly com- 
radely as Herman and the Trojan, who three 
or four miles down the valley watched, or, 
more accurately, heard the sweep of the wave 
down the stream. Chance had put the Trojan 
and his companion, at the time on the hillside, 
well above the fiood level. In the faint light 
they could make out little except that the 
stream, of a sudden, was over its banks ; but 
while they were pausing, uncertain what to 
do, Mr. Grant's hired man drove up. He 
could give them no information except that 
he had been instructed to carry on the inquiry 
for the Shark and Varley at the gorge at the 
mouth of the valley. They held a short con- 
sultation, agreeing that the man should go on 
as far as he could, the road at this point being 


POKE AND STEP 


315 

well above high water mark, while the boys 
turned back. By keeping to the hillside they 
would be able to regain the Grant place, and 
on the way they could continue the search for 
traces of the missing pair. 

For Poke and Step, however, no such solu- 
tion of their problem was possible. They 
were effectually marooned. Neither felt 
tempted to venture to swim to the shore. 
They put their heads together, debated briefly, 
and agreed that there was nothing to do but 
to make the best of the situation. 

The roof of the shed leaked abominably, 
but at one end they found a comparatively 
dry spot, and here, too, they made a discovery. 
Against the wall lay a boat, bottom up, evi- 
dently in storage for the winter. It was a 
home-made affair; a punt, broad, flat-bot- 
tomed, square-ended ; built of heavy planks 
and generally so clumsy and weighty that 
they were unable to move it, though they put 
all their strength into the eflbrt. 

“ No use I groaned Step, and now it was 
Poke who took the r61e of comforter. 

“ Well, I don^t see any oars, so it doesn^t 
matter very much. . . . WhaPs that? 


3i6 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Don't want to stay here all night, you say ? 
Well, I don't want to, either; but I'm not 
going to worry about it. Maybe something 
will turn up." 

Step dismally pointed a number of very 
good reasons for doubting that anything could 
turn up to their advantage ; but Poke declined 
to lose heart. 

I know, I know 1 " he said. Luck's 
against us just now — guess I'm a regular 
Jonah, anyway. But it'll have to turn — say I 
I'm not sure but it has turned." 

How ? " Step demanded skeptically. 

Poke waved a hand at the dark flood. 

Suppose that had caught us. This is no pic- 
nic, you're thinking ? I tell you it's a party 
compared with being out in that mess. Good- 
ness knows, I've got troubles enough in life, 
but I'm not quite ready to be drowned yet I " 

“ Well, I’m not, either," Step admitted. 
“ Only — only I do wish it'd stay light a little 
longer." 

With you there ! " cried Poke earnestly. 

The gloom, in fact, was for the chums — as 
for the larger party in the old house — the 
most insistent of the night's discomforts. It 


POKE AND STEP 


317 

was worse than the pelting rain, from which, 
indeed, they had found shelter of a sort ; it 
was worse than the chill of the air which 
increased as the night advanced, for they 
could huddle together for warmth. It even 
seemed to offer more menacing perils than 
the steadily rising flood, whose approach to 
the summit of the hillock it concealed. How 
Step and Poke endured the dragging hours 
can better be imagined than described. They 
had their alarms — many of them. Mysterious 
sounds came from the bosom of the flood ; an 
owl hooted sepulchrally ; occasionally a squall 
swept by, whistling shrilly about the shed. 
There were long intervals, though, in which 
they heard only the monotonous beat of the 
rain and a sound very like a heavy murmur 
from the river ; and at such times weariness 
took its toll, and both boys slept, fitfully, 
brokenly and restlessly. 

Rather oddly, neither of them suspected 
the manner in which the waters were creep- 
ing toward their refuge. Neither had the 
mathematical bent of the Shark to work out 
a theory of a valley like a plugged bowl ; and 
so, while they were perfectly aware of the dis- 


3i8 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

comforts of their situation and while they 
were full of anxiety as to the fate of their 
friends, the discovery, at last, that the still 
rising river was invading the shed came with 
surprise as well as consternation. 

They turned again to the boat, and made 
desperate efforts to drag it out ; but in this 
they were hampered and handicapped by the 
darkness. They did succeed in turning it on 
its side, but there it stuck, in spite of all their 
efforts. 

Now came a new cause of alarm. Some 
shift in the current began to swerve drifting 
objects toward their island. A score or more 
of big logs, freed by the breaking of some 
boom up-stream, came like a fleet of rams to 
batter the walls of the rickety structure. By 
this time the water was more than knee deep 
on the highest part of the earth floor of the 
shed, and Poke and Step were perched in 
insecurity on a pile of old boxes in a corner. 
The only alleviating feature of their situation 
was a lessening of the darkness with the com- 
ing of the dull dawn ; but it was still a faint 
twilight which was all about them when the 
end of the shed came. 


POKE AND STEP 


319 

Another lot of logs, traveling with even 
more momentum than the first flotilla, seemed 
to charge upon them. One tore a great hole 
in the shed wall ; a second ripped away an 
end. Then a huge timber lodged against an 
upright of the framework, and with the full 
force of the flood behind it, turned like a 
beam of a great derrick, carrying away what 
was left of the roof, tearing out the wall as if 
it had been made of paper, and completing the 
ruin of the shed. The pile of boxes was tossed 
aside, and Poke and Step were pitched into 
the water. 

The big log, though, served them a good 
turn as well as a bad one. Their asylum was 
gone, but the boat had been set afloat by the 
blow, and, what was still better, was floating 
right side up. Half full of water as it was, it 
was a very ark of safety to the boys, who 
climbed aboard just as the current seized it 
and carried it free of the wreckage. 

For a moment or two the voyagers were 
content to sit still and regain breath. Then, 
pluckily, they set about improving the oppor- 
tunity for escape which Fortune had thrown 
in their way. 


320 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

There were no oars aboard, but Step tore 
a broken thwart from its fastenings. One 
piece of the board he gave to Poke and 
another he himself put over the side. Both 
boys fell to paddling frantically — but to 
small avail. The punt was heavy, clumsy, 
water-logged. The paddles were the poorest 
of excuses. It was all they could do to 
swing the blunt bow of the boat toward the 
dimly visible shore ; and after ten minutes’ 
hard, but vain, endeavor the chums ceased 
their labors. 

Their plight now was distressful, though 
possibly having less of peril than had threat- 
ened them on their temporary island. Their 
ark, if unmanageable, kept afloat, and was 
stout enough to be in no great danger from 
collision with other flotsam borne along by 
the current. They were in water half-way to 
their knees, but even if the boat filled, its 
wooden bulk promised sufficient buoyancy to 
support them. 

“ Sooner or later we’ll have to drift ashore 
— somewhere,” Poke remarked philosophic- 
ally. Kind of like the stone you chuck in 
the air — ^ What goes up must come down,’ 



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POKE AND STEP 


321 

you know. And this isn^t the ocean — we^ll 
make land after a while.'’ 

“ Huh I Don't make out any now I " 
croaked Step. 

Poke made deliberate survey. The light 
was still dim ; low lying, gray clouds seemed 
to merge in thin mists, through which only 
vaguely could the shore be discerned. The 
rain had decreased somewhat, but it was like a. 
veil in hiding distant objects. There were, to 
be sure, other objects near at hand, which 
under happier conditions the voyagers must 
have found interesting. Keeping pace with 
the boat, and not fifty feet away, drifted an 
overturned wagon. Trailing this came a 
pagoda-like summer-house, at the head of a 
fieet of chicken coops, boxes and barrels. 
Farther still from the boat fioated the roof of 
a barn. All about them the boys saw planks, 
logs, a section of wooden fence, limbs torn 
from trees, doors, odds and ends of furniture ; 
anything, in fact, which the fiood could bear 
along. A squirrel, perched on a log, chattered 
at them ; a cat, crouched on a big packing- 
case, mewed piteously. Beyond the case they 
could see the body of a cow, still held by a 


322 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

halter to the shed in which she had been 
drowned, and which now was sweeping down 
the stream. 

Except for the current there was more sug- 
gestion of lake than river ; though the trees 
protruding above the water added a weird 
touch to the picture, which differed markedly 
from that of any lake either boy ever had 
seen. Even the philosophy of Poke was not 
proof against the effects of such evidences of 
destruction. He huddled himself lower, and 
his voice shook. 

“ I — I — say, this is pretty fierce. Step I 
Things must have been awful for the folks up 
above.” 

They^re awful enough for the folks here I ” 
groaned Step. 

Then there was a long pause. The light 
strengthened, but slowly, very slowly. Nei- 
ther of the boys took pains to maintain a 
vigilant lookout ; and so it happened that 
they were sighted from the old house before 
they were aware of the attic still protruding 
above the flood. 

Roused to action by the shouts of Sam and 
his comrades, they caught up their extern- 


POKE AND STEP 


323 

porized paddles and fell to work as for dear 
life. Had the boat not been drifting almost 
directly toward the house, however, it is much 
to be doubted if they could have brought it 
alongside. As things were, they accomplished 
the feat, the side of the punt crunching 
against the roof just where Sam and his 
friends were gathered. 

Then a curious complication arose. It was 
eloquent testimony to the slight confidence or 
liking either party had for its quarter; for as 
the boys in the house tried to scramble into 
the boat. Poke and Step leaped wildly for 
the break in the roof. In consequence. Poke 
and the Shark collided, and pitched together 
to the floor of the attic, while Step and Orkney, 
clinging to each other, reeled against Lon 
with such force as to drive him back from the 
opening. 

Sam and Varley chanced to be a little to 
one side. This kept them free of the unin- 
tentional mel6e, but, at the same time, put 
them farther from the boat, which, helped, no 
doubt, by the impetus of Poke and Step’s 
leaps, edged away from the house. 

It would be hard to say which was the 


324 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

quicker to grasp the danger of losing the boat. 
Both sprang forward ; both tried to grasp the 
gunwale — and both failed by inches. 

Then Varley did a thing which may have 
been rash, but the daring of which was not to 
be denied. Like a flash he whipped off his 
greatcoat; vaulted the wreck of wall ; plunged 
into the flood ; caught the side of the boat. 
Sam, no laggard in such an emergency, leaned 
out and seized Varley by the leg. In an in- 
stant his call for Lon brought help. The big 
punt was heavy; the current was beginning 
to lay hold upon it again. For a little it 
seemed to be impossible that Varley should 
be able to retain his grasp on the rail or that 
Lon and Sam should be able to haul in their 
human cable ; then, inch by inch, they began 
to gain. The boat was dragged within reach. 
Orkney and the Shark, by this time clear of 
Step and Poke, held it fast, while Sam hauled 
Varley out of the water. 

“Get aboard — quick — everybody!” Sam 
cried, and helped Varley to obey the order. 
Then he turned and caught Stepps shoulder. 

“ Pile in I Hustle Poke, too 1 It^s our only 
chance 1 ” 


POKE AND STEP 


325 

Step resisted. “ Wait a minute, Sam I There 
are no oars. You canT do anything. You 
canT ” 

Sam half pitched the objector into the punt. 
Poke, taking the hint, followed, unassisted. 
Lon ripped up a narrow floor-board. 

Here’s oars in the makin’,” he shouted. 
All aboard — everybody that’s goin’ I ” 

There was no need of further exhortation. 
In thirty seconds more the Safety First Club 
was afloat, and the boat was again beginning 
to drift away from the old house. 


CHAPTER XX 


THE PEIZE SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 

Lon’s floor-board gave material for three 
rough-and-ready paddles, short, awkward to 
handle, yet more or less serviceable. Lon 
himself kept one, Orkney took another, and 
Varley laid claim to the third. 

‘‘ I’ve got to keep my blood circulating,” 
he explained. ** Thought I was pretty well 
dampened before that last go, but now — whew ! 
Say, I’d like to be run through a clothes 
wringer just as I stand. Next best thing’ll 
be working at something.” 

Sam also had stretched out a hand for 
the third paddle, but Lon ruled in favor of 
Paul. 

“ Varley, you can have anything I’ve got!” 
he said warmly. That leap-for-life, floatin’ 
trapeze stunt you done was amazin’ good med- 
icine for this crowd ; for my notion is, the old 
326 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 327 

river ain't got done risin', and it ain't got to 
do much more cornin' up in the world to clean 
swamp that garret. Good, quick action o' 
yourn, son, good quick action, I tell you ! " 

Oh, I don't know," said Paul modestly. 
<< It — well, it just seemed to be a good idea. 
I — I hated, somehow, to lose the boat ; though 
maybe the flood won't go much higher." 

No ; Lon's right." It was the Shark who 
spoke, with all his customary brusqueness. 

Liable to be ten feet more of a rise. How 
do I know? How do you know anything? 
Figure it out, don't you? Just what I did I 
If the mouth of the valley is dammed — must 
be, or the river would have behaved better — 
the water'll keep on rising till it's over the top 
of the dam. And from the levels as the map 
gave 'em, and the height of the bridge piers, 

as I recalled 'em " 

Sam caught him by the shoulder. Look 
here. Shark ! Do you mean you'd flgured all 
that out, and then didn't tell us?" 

The Shark wriggled free. “ Huh I What'd 
have been the good of telling? Just would 
have worried you fellows some more — wouldn't 
have helped anything or anybody. You're all 


328 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

right in your way, but you don’t seem to be 
able to get any comfort out of calculations 
that go into three or more figures. So if Td 
said anything, you’d have wanted to know 
why I said it, and when I tried to explain, 
you wouldn’t have understood. But if you’re 
so set on having me say something now. I’ll 
tell you that we’d better make shore. Cur- 
rent’s taking us down-stream, and I won’t 
guarantee how long the ice dam will hold. 
Don’t want to go over it, or through it, do 
you? Well then!” 

“ Jumpin’ Jupiter, but that’s sense 1 ” ejacu- 
lated Lon, and fell to paddling. 

Orkney and Varley followed the example. 
Step and Poke found the pieces of the broken 
thwart and added their mite. The Shark 
stared ahead. Sam, for a moment, was with- 
out occupation, but then he pulled oflf his cap 
and began to bail out some of the water in the 
boat. With the increased number of passen- 
gers a leak or two had developed. 

There is no craft more difficult to manage 
than a flat-bottomed, square-ended punt, deep 
in the water, and in the grasp of a strong cur- 
rent. Naturally enough, the attempt was 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 329 

made to steer for the nearer bank, the one on 
which was the Grant farmhouse. It resulted 
in a sort of diagonal drift, in which a dozen 
feet were made down-stream for every foot of 
approach to land. Sometimes the boat was 
fairly across the current, sometimes her nose 
pointed almost directly down the river. More 
than once collision with floating debris threw 
her off her course. In short, she might have 
been compared to a crippled and bulky-bodied 
beetle, struggling with broken legs to swim to 
the shore of a stream into which it had fallen. 
But as the beetle, by virtue of hard work, 
draws nearer the land, so the big punt edged 
away from the swifter current of mid-stream. 
Presently she was scraping through the 
boughs of a young grove, the trees of which 
were submerged to their tops. The Shark, 
playing lookout man, sang out his news : 

Hullo I There's the Grants' house I We're 
just about abreast of it." 

The paddlers toiled harder than ever, but 
Sam paused a moment in his bailing. The 
light had strengthened ; he had no trouble in 
making out the house and the big barns 
near by. As well as he could determine, the 


330 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

flood had not invaded the homestead, though 
it seemed to have reached the road in front of 
the place. 

Lon and his crew tried to arrest the drift 
down-stream ; observing which, the Shark 
spoke oracularly : 

“ Don’t try too hard to hold her on the 
mark I Keep her going, and see if we don’t 
strike an eddy pretty soon. My guess is we 
will.” 

Step had little breath to spare, but he used 
some of it in speech. 

“ What’s that ? ” he gasped. You * guess ’ ? 
Thought math-mathematicians never guessed, 
but always were sure ! ” 

Round whipped the Shark, bristling. 
‘‘ Mathematics nothing I This is just com- 
mon sense. I’m counting on the chances of 
being right about an ice jam down below. If 
it’s damming up the water, you’ll find some 
of the surplus that can’t get through or over 
the obstruction forced back along the edges, 
while the freshet keeps on pouring more water 
down the middle. Seen how the water whirli- 
gigs in a bowl, haven’t you, when you turn 
on the faucet ? Well, then ? ” 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 331 

Step might have made answer, but Poke 
thumped him on the back. 

Cut it out ! ” the plump youth advised. 

This is no debate ; iPs a job I ’’ 

Step grunted, and fell to paddling again. 
The Shark shrugged his shoulders, and re- 
sumed his observation; thought it was his 
privilege, very speedily, to utter the words 
the most self-restrained of mortals can^t deny 
themselves sometimes : 

There I What did I tell you ? WeVe hit 
an eddy I 

It was true, and true beyond question. The 
lateral motion of the boat was now up-stream 
rather than down ; and there was no longer 
difficulty in keeping the house over her square 
bow. Moreover, in the slack water the pace 
of the heavy craft seemed to increase. And 
again the Shark gave tidings : 

Say, fellows, I can see folks I They^re 
waiting for us — right by the edge of the road 
just below the house. Mr. Grant^s there — 
and there^s another man — and hurrah I Her- 
man and the Trojan ! They^re both on deck, 
so all our crowd's accounted for I And oh, I 
say 1 There's Mrs. Grant hustling down from 


332 THE SJFETT FIRST CLUB 

the house and waving a shawl or something 
like all possessed I 

With such good news ringing in the ears of 
the crew, the big boat appeared fairly to jump 
forward. There was a mighty splashing along 
both sides, but what the paddlers lacked in art 
they made up in energy. From the shore 
came cries of welcome and eager query, but 
everybody on the punt was too busy to make 
reply. Then there was more splashing, as the 
Trojan and Herman, with Mr. Grant close be- 
hind them, dashed into the water to meet the 
voyagers. They caught the gunwale of the 
boat and dragged the craft forward till she 
grounded. And then the Shark laid hold 
upon Mr. Grant. 

There is an ice jam, isiiT there ? he de- 
manded. Big one, too ? ” 

Biggest ever heard of in these parts I Both 
bridges knocked off their piers and all tangled 
up with the ice. That^s what raised hob when 
the dams up-river began to go out, and let 
down all the water. Railroad’s sent for its 
wrecking crew, and it’s coming with dyna- 
mite to blow open a channel, and ” 

The Shark was discourteous enough not to 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 333 

wait for the completion of the sentence. He 
turned triumphantly to his comrades in 
general and to Step in particular. 

Hear that, did you? Josh me about 
guessing, would you ? Huh I 1^11 guess 
again, and the guess is that the fellow who 
has the last laugh gets the best one. Huh I ” 

With that the Shark stepped ashore, 
avoided the outstretched arms of Mrs. Grant, 
and fell prey to the Trojan, who splashed out 
of the river as joyously as he had splashed 
into it. The Trojan and Herman had had a 
night of terrible anxiety, but had escaped any 
adventures such as had befallen the rest of the 
club. Maybe there was a touch of envy in 
the demands upon the Shark for his story — 
which, by the way, the Shark did not relate. 
Indeed, there was for a little too much con- 
fusion for anybody to offer a coherent narra- 
tive ; and then Mrs. Grant was urging the 
party up the slope to the porch, and into the 
house, where open fires burned cheerily, and 
where there was a wonderfully delicious odor 
of boiling coffee and cooking viands. 

The big house seemed to have an unlimited 
store of dry garments. Mrs. Grant brought 


334 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

them by the armful into the living-room, and 
made proclamation: 

“ Listen to me, everybody I You men folks 
can have this room to yourselves while 
Hannah and I dish up the breakfast. It’ll 
be ready for you the minute you’re all in dry 
things ; and I reckon you’ll find enough to 
go around. Don’t mind looks or fit, and 
don’t stop to primp. And here’s a lot of 
good rough towels — you’ll need a rub-down to 
take out the chill. Don’t you keep me wait- 
ing, and I won’t keep you waiting, either I ” 

She was turning to the door, but Sam 
stopped her. As head of the Safety First 
Club, he had learned some valuable lessons 
in thoughtfulness for others. 

‘‘Just a minute, please, Mrs. Grant I” he 
begged. “ Our folks in town — do they know 
we’re all right, or have they heard anything 
about — about our being out all night? ” 

Mrs. Grant shook her head vigorously. 
“ Not a syllable have they had, good or bad, 
welcome or worrying ! The telephone broke 
down about eight o’clock last night, and I 
tell you, boys, I never was so glad of such an 
accident before. If any of your mothers had 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 335 

called me up — mercy, but I don’t know what 
I could have said or done I There, there I 
Let me count you again. Let’s see I Five, 
six, seven, eight — yes, you’re all here, thank 
the stars I ” 

Lon heaved a burlesque sigh. Oh, my, 
my I And I ain’t even figgered in the census 
no more ! ” 

Mrs. Grant laughed very cheerfully. Oh, 
you’ll figure, Lon Gates, but I sort of put you 
in the ought-to-have-known-better class.” 

Lon bowed deeply. “ Thanky for the com- 
pliment, ma’am. I don’t get so many of ’em 
that I recognize ’em any easier than old 
man Plympton uster recognize his fust wife’s 
third cousins when they came fishin’ for an 
invitation to dinner, for old times’ sake, his 
fourth bein’ a mighty fine cook, if I say it as 
shouldn’t, she bein’ kin o’ mine.” 

Well, if that’s what you call a compli- 
ment, I guess you have got out of practice 
entertaining ’em,” chuckled Mrs. Grant. 

But now get into dry clothes, every man 
Jack of you I ” And out she bustled, closing 
the door behind her. 

For ten minutes the living-room resembled 


336 THE SJFETT FIRST CLUB 

nothing so much as the locker room of an 
athletic field. Crowding before the fire, the 
boys ripped off their wet garments, plied the 
big towels vigorously, and then, warm and 
glowing, slipped into the emergency costumes 
awaiting them. The results surely were 
picturesque, but nobody minded trifles like a 
shirt three sizes too big or trousers that came 
only a little below knees. 

“ Ready ? ” called Mrs. Grant from the 
dining-room. 

Sam ran an eye over his company. Poke 
wagged his head solemnly. 

“ In all my life,'' he said, I never knew 
before what being really ready for a square 
meal was 1 

‘^Yes, ready!’’ Sam reported; though, as 
he spoke, he saw that Tom Orkney, with- 
drawn a little from the others, was standing 
close to a window and inspecting something 
he held in his hand. Still, as Tom had made 
as full a toilette as anybody else, Sam saw no 
reason to delay on his account. 

“Yes, ma’am, ready!” he repeated more 
loudly. 

The door swung, and the boys trooped into 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 337 

the dining-room, Lon bearing them willing 
company. But while they feasted their eyes 
upon the well-spread table, their hostess was 
again making a count. 

“ Six, seven — sakes alive ! but there ought 
to be eight of you, not saying anything of Lon 
Gates, who^s quite big enough to speak for him- 
self. And there’s only seven.” Mrs. Grant 
was moving toward the door. “ Now what 

in the world ” she was looking into the 

living-room. “ Oh, there you are I Good- 
ness gracious, child, I should think you’d be 
famished I ” 

Orkney thrust what he had been examining 
into an inner pocket of his coat. Then, blush- 
ing and embarrassed, he came forward. 

I — I must have been so interested in — in 

something I found, I ” 

Never mind it now, anyway ! Sit right 
down, and let’s see if you won’t find breakfast 
interesting, too.” 

Tom took his place at the table ; the others 
already had taken their places. Hannah, 
coffee-pot in hand, approached, and began to 
fill the cups. 

Every face brightened as the savory odor 


338 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

of the steaming coffee filled the room. Poke 
sighed, but it was a sigh of vast content. 

‘‘My, my, but this is bully I Only I 

wish ” there he broke off abruptly and a 

bit sheepishly. 

“ What are you wishing ? Mrs. Grant in- 
quired solicitously. 

“ Oh, it doesn^t matter, ma^am. I — I — it 
was just a fancy. 

“ What kind of a fancy ? Tell us, do I 

Poke reddened ; he moved uneasily in his 
chair. “ It — I guess iPs too foolish to talk 
about.” 

“ But sometimes I like to hear things that 
may not be so foolish, after all.” 

The boy hesitated. Then, perceiving that 
the whole hungry party waited on an end of 
this interlude, he spoke, hastily and jerkily: 

“ IPs a crazy notion, I know. ... 
Folks donT do it at breakfast, I suppose. 
But — but I couldn’t help remembering that 
perfectly corking buster of a mince pie we had 
yesterday, and wishing Pd come to it with the 
razor appetite Pve got this minute. It was 
just a notion, you know, and ” 

There Mrs. Grant stopped him. “ What 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 339 

did I tell you about foolish things that 
weren't foolish ? . . . Hannah I Bring 

it in — we'll begin with it, instead of end with 
it. . . . And hurry, please do I " 

Away sped the maid to the kitchen, and 
Mrs. Grant again addressed her guests : 

Some people poke fun at pie for breakfast, 
but over in Sugar Valley we have a better use 
for it — we eat it. And this morning I feel 
like eating it with special thankfulness for it 
and every other mercy and good thing in life. 
You boys are all alive — I'm going to hear all 
about how you happen to be alive, as soon as 
we've attended to having last night's supper, 
and a go-to-bed snack, and this morning's 
breakfast, all at once. The flood has swept 
the valley, and there has been a terrible lot 
of damage, but so far as we can hear, nobody 
has been drowned. And if we have to have 
new bridges down below — well, that'll be a 
good thing, too ; I've been mortal afraid of the 
old covered bridge lately — it was so rickety. 

So we'll reckon up our mercies Right 

here, Hannah ; I'll cut it myself." 

A chorus of exclamations rose from the 
boys. The maid had reappeared, bearing a 


340 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

pie as big, as magnificent, as nobly tinted as 
the wonder of the day before. 

Jeeminy I the twin I cried Step, admir- 
ingly. 

Right ! ” said Mrs. Grant briskly. “ The 
story goes, old Dominie Pike wished mightily 
that he might have had two pies instead of 
one, so we always make up a double allow- 
ance. And now don’t wait for ceremony.” 
She was beginning to cut the pie with sure 
and deft wielding of her knife. ** This time 
we’ll begin with the boy who thought of 
having pie for breakfast — yes, serve him first, 
Hannah.” 

Hungrily Poke snatched up a fork. There 
was something frankly famished in the admir- 
ing gaze he fixed upon the contents of the 
plate put before him. 

“ Don’t wait I ” Mrs. Grant counselled. 
** We’ll dispense with ceremony.” 

Poke needed no urging. He was desper- 
ately hungry ; and, moreover, as has been 
said, he was a mighty trencherman. Up rose 
the fork, well freighted. An instant’s silence; 
then one word : 

Ah-h I ” 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 341 

If ever vast satisfaction were packed into a 
syllable, it was in that brief exclamation. 
Their hostess beamed ; the boys burst into 
laughter. Sam, before whom Hannah had 
placed the second plate, caught Mrs. Grant^s 
eye. 

I — I think I used to be prejudiced about 

— about he hesitated. Somehow, 

though, I think you understand what I 
mean, ma’am. Maybe I didn’t appreciate — 
er — er — you know I ” 

I know I But you’re not to bother your 
head about that for a second. I was young 
once myself, thank Heaven ! ” 

Well, I appreciate it now,” said Sam 
simply. And I’m mighty glad I’ve learned 
how to appreciate it. This whole business — 
from first to last, with the flood thrown in — I 
— I guess I know more than I did,” he con- 
cluded with an effort. 

“ I’m surely glad all of you know about 
Sugar Valley and its legends,” Mrs. Grant put 
in quickly, to cover his confusion. I’ve told 
you one story about Dominie Pike. There are 
a lot of other stories.” 

Tom Orkney spoke from his end of the table. 


342 THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

I wonder if some of them are not here, 
Mrs. Grant, he said, and took from his pocket 
a little book, stained, frayed, dog-eared at the 
corners, lacking covers, and with some of the 
outer pages sadly mutilated. 

From hand to hand it was passed to Mrs. 
Grant. The boys could see that the pages 
were filled with writing, small, closely lined, 
in ink which had faded with the passage of 
years. 

Mrs. Grant glanced curiously at the little 
book. She turned the pages, her interest evi- 
dently increasing as she proceeded. 

“ Why — why, if this isn’t the real thing — 
the original diary of Dominie Pike — but how 
did you come by it?” 

“ I found it in an old house we stayed in 
till the fiood drove us out.” 

The lady nodded. “ Yes, that would fit — 
it must have been the old Dominie’s house. 
But this book, now I You know, I told you 
I never saw the original, and never knew 
anybody who had seen it, but this — well, it 
certainly fits the description of the diary 
that’s been handed down. And the penman- 
ship is just like the Dominie’s — there are some 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 343 

other specimens in old documents that have 
been preserved — bills, receipts, agreements, 
and so on. And as nearly as I can make out 
what it says — yes, it reads as if it was genuine. 
And I think it's one of the first of the set the 
Dominie is known to have kept. But you 
found it, you say ?" 

Yes," said Tom. It was in a niche, a 
sort of hiding-place in the chimney above the 
fireplace in an up-stairs room." 

I know the room you mean. They say it 
was the Dominie's study. He may have left 
the book there, or maybe his son or grandson 
did. But how in the world did you happen 
to hunt it out ? " 

Orkney hesitated. He was not a fellow of 
ready speech, and he was embarrassed by the 
attention he was attracting. 

— well, I can't explain exactly except that 
I had a — a hunch, you might call it — that, 
somehow, the Dominie Pike story might be 
more than a plain story. And when I heard 
about the lost diary — well, it happened I re- 
membered it would be awfully good medicine 
for this crowd if we could find it. There's a 
prize " 


344 the SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

Oh I '' said Poke sharply and suddenly. 

There^s a prize we^d like to win for — for a 
special reason 

Bully old Orkney ! cried Step. 

Orkney raised a hand. Better let me finish 
the best way I can — I’m not much of a chap 
at such things. Well, then, I couldn’t get the 
Dominie’s diary out of my head. So when 
we had nothing else to do in the old house, 
I kept nosing around. In that up-stairs room 
something made me suspect there might be 
a hiding-place in the masonry of the chimney. 
My grandfather’s house had a sort of safety- 
deposit box built into its chimney, and I got 
a hint from that. Of course, it was too dark 
to see much, but by feeling along and then 
digging with my knife — well, to make the 
story short, I found that book just as we had 
to beat it — go away, I mean. So I tucked the 
book where it would be safe, and when we 
were on shore, and there was a chance, I 
looked it over. And — and you think it’s the 
real thing, don’t you?” he added anx- 
iously. 

Certainly I ” cried Mrs. Grant. ** I haven’t 
a doubt that it is.” 


SNATCHED FROM THE FLOOD 345 

And you won^t mind our taking it for a 
while 

“ Mind ? Bless me, child, it's yours for the 
finding, and welcome I " 

But Orkney shook his head. No ; it be- 
longs to you," he said. You'll know what 
to do with it permanently. We shouldn't. A 
week or two will be quite enough for our pur- 
poses." 

Mrs. Grant looked perplexed. Well, 
maybe you understand what you're about. 
I don't, but that's neither here nor there. 
And if it suits you, surely it suits me, too." 

Thank you I " said Orkney very gravely. 

** Yes, thank you I " echoed the Safety First 
Club with a fervent heartiness Mrs. Grant 
perceived but quite failed to comprehend. 


CHAPTER XXI 


POKE OUT OF BONDAGE 

The result of the historical essay competi- 
tion was a foregone conclusion. Under the 
conditions, by which facts counted for more 
than form of expression, the production of the 
Safety First Club, entered in Pokers name, 
took the hundred dollar prize, with never a 
doubt in the minds of the judges. Tattered 
and torn as was the diary of Dominie Pike, it 
yet threw so much light upon debated ques- 
tions of early town history, and added so much' 
information to the local historians’ store of 
knowledge, that the award was made with 
very little delay. 

Poke, it must be said, rebelled at the last, but 
the club promptly overruled his objections. 
Step argued long and vigorously with his chum. 

“ You’ve got to have money, and here is 
money. Don’t be an idiot ! What do you 
want to do ? Turn us down, and be sued or 
— or something? Want your folks to know 
346 


OUT OF BONDAGE 


347 

all about the mess, eh ? Ugh ! Thought you 
didn’t. And here you’ve been growling about 
luck being against you, and when it’s for you, 
you’re all for jumping the fence to get away 
from it. Say, you make me tired I ” 

This was Step’s conclusion, and along with 
the rest of his argument served to shake Poke 
somewhat, and to send him to Sam, as a sort 
of court of appeal. But Sam quite agreed with 
Step. 

“ Look here. Poke,” he said. I know 
how you feel ; how you hate to take all of 
what you think ought to be divided among 
the gang. But it’s the thing for you to do. 
That dinner of yours was really a club affair. 
You gave it to even up a club account with 
Varley. So the whole club is concerned in 
getting you out of a scrape that resulted from 
the dinner. Every one of us feels that way 
about it — Orkney most of all. So trot along, 
and pay the bill, and be happy.” 

Poke drew a long face. ‘‘Happy? With 
just a shift of load ? I’ll be out of debt to the 
hotel man, and under debt to every one of 
you fellows.” 

Sam laughed, and it wasn’t a feigned laugh. 


348 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

either. “ Poke, you miss the combination 1 
There isn't one of us who hasn't had his full 
share of help, one way or another, out of all 
we went through." 

“ Umph I What did you get, for instance ? " 
Poke demanded. 

I got a lot." 

‘‘A mince pie! You're fooling me — or 
trying to." 

Yes, I got a mince pie," said Sam calmly. 

And I'll tell you this : I wouldn't miss the 
pointers I've picked up in getting it. I know 
more about people, and er — er^ — about motives. 
And I can see what a fool I made of myself 
for a while. And I see, too, how what seem 
like little things at the start can lead to big 
things. Why, it's like rolling a snowball 
that gets bigger and bigger as you push it 
along. It began with Varley breaking our 
rules, and walking into the club. Then 
came the runaway, with Varley mixed up in 
it, and Mrs. Grant's coming after us, and my 
row with the club, and, finally, after Varley 
had treated us and you'd treated him in return 
and got in trouble doing it — why, it all had to 
happen to lead us to Sugar Valley. And you 


OUT OF BONDAGE 


349 

wouldn^t have missed your experience there, 
would you?’^ 

“ Course I wouldn't I " cried Poke indig- 
nantly. 

Well, then I What more would you have? 
Tom Orkney's as pleased as Punch to have 
found that old book, but it pleases him more 
to be able to give you a lift. No, Poke, there's 
nothing for you to do but make a fair wind 
of it, and sail down to the Rainbow Mountain 
House, and settle up." 

You honestly mean that? " 

Every word of it I " said Sam gravely. 

So Poke, with the prize money supple- 
mented by his own savings and the contribu- 
tions of the club, drove out to the hotel, and 
paid his bill for breakage, and received a 
formal receipt, and drove back, a deal relieved 
in spirit, and full of projects to make money 
enough to repay his friends. 

Paul Varley had not been invited to join in 
the contribution. He had, naturally enough, 
gained a pretty accurate idea of the story and 
Poke's plight, but when he hinted at a wish 
to bear his share in the relief fund, Sam 
rather tactfully discouraged him. Paul un- 


350 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

derstood : it was a club affair, and he was not 
of the club, though he was on the best of 
terms with its members. He had proof of 
their regard for him in a very friendly dem- 
onstration in his honor. 

Rather unexpectedly, Paul was called back 
to the city. It was a summons by telegraph, 
and he had to obey it at once. He was sur- 
prised and gratified, therefore, when he 
reached the railroad station to find the Safety 
First Club gathered in full force on the plat- 
form. 

Boys, on such occasions, do not make 
smooth and felicitous farewell speeches. 

“ Quitting us, eh ? Sorry I Say, old 
sport, you’ll be running up to see us some 
time, of course.” Paul, we’re going to miss 
you — you’re all right.” ** What you got on for 
this summer? Don’t forget old Plainfield.” 

That was the sort of thing they told him, 
and Paul made reply in kind. But he had a 
moment apart with Sam, when he spoke more 
freely. 

Parker, I’m older than your crowd, but, 
somehow. I’ve got a lot of good out of them. 
I’ve tried to keep up my end ” 


OUT OF BONDAGE 351 

** But you have kept it up/^ Sam cut in. 
<< Why, youVe treated the lot of us over and 
over again, and 

Varley interrupted him in turn. I don^t 
mean that way,” he said hastily. “ I mean 
in doing things, in taking the luck that came, 
in standing punishment with the crowd. I 
was what you might call soft, out of condi- 
tion, at the start ; and a lot of your game was 
new to me — the roughing it — the tramps over 
the snow — the flood — all that sort of thing. 

I didn^t want to show a yellow streak ” 

Yellow streak nothing I A chap that'd 
take the chance you took when you jumped for 
that boat is true blue all the way through I ” 

Varley cast a swift glance at the rest of the 
club ; he saw that they were out of ear-shot, 
yet he lowered his voice : 

Parker, you heard me squeal when that 
crash came — when the big barge hit the old 
house ? Of course you heard me I Now, 
honestly, that was just nerves, but I could 
have bitten out my tongue a minute after I^d 
yelled for help. But it wouldn’t have done 
any good. You’d heard me ; the crowd had 
heard me. So I made up my mind that if 


352 THE SAFETT FIRST CLUB 

the opportunity came to make good for that 
break, Fd seize it. So when you and I 
grabbed for the boat and missed it — why — 
why — well, we just had to stop that boat from 
drifting away. So I went after it. That^s the 
story in a nutshell.'^ 

Sam, the undemonstrative, gripped PauFs 
hand. 

“ It was the pluckiest and quickest witted 
job I ever saw,” he declared. “ And that's 
what every one of the fellows thinks, too.” 

Had Varley had doubts of this, they must 
have been removed, as leaning from a car 
window, he waved farewell to the Safety First 
Club. For, of a sudden, the Shark, once his 
bitterest critic, stepped forward, pulled off his 
hat, and led in a cheer that gained in hearty 
volume from beginning to end. 

“ What's the matter with Paul Varley ? 
He's all right ! '' chanted the Shark. 

“ Hurrah for Varley I Rah, rah, rah, rah, 
rah, rah, rah, rah, rah, Varley I '' chorused 
the club with a will. 

The Stories in this Series are : 

THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB 

THE SAFETY FIRST CLUB AND THE FLOOD 


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